After Jurgen Klopp was sent off in Liverpool’s ill-tempered 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend, Dr Tom Webb posted an image on Twitter similar to the one above of the Liverpool manager screaming at assistant referee Gary Beswick.
“What sort of message does this send to people watching?” wrote Webb, who co-ordinates the Referee and Match Official Research Network. “It’s images like this that make people think #referees are fair game… ‘if coaches and players in the Premier League are doing it, then it must be OK’… it isn’t and it certainly won’t help the trend of referee #abuse.”
Klopp’s actions came in the Premier League’s marquee Sunday afternoon game on a weekend where Merseyside Youth League matches were postponed “following multiple incidents of inappropriate and threatening behaviour towards our league and match officials”.
Klopp, of course, is not the only manager to lose his cool with an official this season and the abuse of officials is a problem throughout the pyramid — and in children’s football, too. How can Premier League managers be expected to set an example? Is the fish going to die from the head?
“I know about our role in public and how difficult it is to be a ref,” said Klopp two days later. “Oh my god, I know all that. I’m a ref five days a week in various situations in training, and it is impossible to do it correctly.
Klopp on the sideline in Liverpool’s win over Manchester City (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
“But in the end, we are all human beings and you react how you react. It was intense for 99 minutes in this instance. Being the best version of yourself in any situation is impossible.
“I went over the top in the moment but I don’t think I was disrespectful to anyone. I apologised to the assistant, of course.”
It’s about more than just the Liverpool manager getting upset with referee Anthony Taylor’s decision not to give a foul on Mohamed SalahBy Bernardo Silva. This is a serious problem in English football and it shows no signs of improving anytime soon.
So, The AthleticWe asked Premier League managers if they believe they should be setting a better example or if this is something they are aware.
Are they embarrassed to look at the footage of them on the touchline? Is it part of the game? A natural consequence of the scrutiny and pressure managers are under?
What can be done?
Is it the responsibility of Premier League managers to role model for their players?
“I think we all do,” said Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers. “That’s always been the notion for every manager. It’s a passionate sport and there will be times when those passions and pressures spill over onto the field. Sometimes it can spill over but as coaches, players and managers we all have to uphold the game’s values.
“I was over in Belfast during the international break and I was watching a five-a-side tournament. I was laughing to myself because my own nephew was rolling about the floor and holding his knee and he’s only six. It does. (Translate from professional to grassroots). It follows through and it’s something that we always need to be aware and conscious of.”
Rodgers believes that what happens in the top flight is translated to grassroots. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images).
“I think we need to be role models,” agreed Brentford manager Thomas Frank. “We need to be very aware of what we are doing out there.
“I think it’s important for, especially Sunday league or grassroots football, they play for fun. Here it’s a professional game and there is so much at stake. There is so much media focus. However, we still need calm and role models.
“I have also been on the touchline and watched my son play, but because I have got a professional career I never said anything. I understand it’s difficult out there because you just want your son or daughter to do well. People need to remember it is the most beautiful game, it gives everyone so much joy and we need to remember that when we are a little bit heated.”
Nottingham ForestSteve Cooper is a unique manager because his father Keith was a Football League lineman in 1975. He went on to referee in Premier League before his retirement, in 1996.
“There are a lot of people watching, of course,” said Cooper. “You always want to be the best version of yourself and a good role model. But at the same time, being a good role model can be about showing that you care; showing that you are ready to stand up and be counted, particularly if things go against your team, which you don’t believe are right.
“There are ways and means of going about that. That might sometimes mean a bit of animation or aggression and I think that is OK.”
“We all have to act as a role model,” said Crystal PalacePatrick Vieira was a manager and was dismissed eight times as a player in the Premier League. “When I say all, I’m not just talking about managers, I’m talking about yourself (journalists). We all have an impact on youth so how we conduct ourselves is important.”
“For 90 minutes or a bit longer, it becomes an emotional game and maybe sometimes you can change your character from what your true character is,” said West Ham manager David Moyes. “If you were in Jurgen Klopp’s position you would probably do the same. But we’ve all got great respect for referees and the work they have to do. I hope that they will see the humor in my words and realize that we sometimes lose our heads for 90 minutes or longer.
“But I think if we stood there and did nothing then our supporters, the public, you (the media) would probably be questioning why not?”
EvertonFrank Lampard, the boss, chose this theme because it highlighted how much former workers are valued. ChelseaThomas Tuchel, boss TottenhamManager Antonio Conte was involved in a heated argument with his players.
Things simmer between Tuchel, Conte and others in August (Photo courtesy of Getty Images).
“I remember earlier this season when Tuchel and Conte had this,” he said, “and afterwards it was ‘This is great! This is what the Premier League is all about, people showing passion and showing themselves!’ so you can’t have everything in one go.
“We have a responsibility I understand that, but there is also a microscope on managers in the modern day where we’re in highly pressurised jobs. It’s easy for me to sit here in a calm moment and say we should be better, but the amount of pressure we’re under and sometimes the decisions that go against you can throw you.”
Lampard also said that everyone should take responsibility for their actions, rather than Premier League managers acting like role models.
He said: “If you’re trying to draw a line from (the Premier League) to a Sunday league game or someone going and physically attacking a referee, then that’s just the personal responsibility of someone who did that, as it would be if they did it on the street.
“I understand our responsibility but I don’t draw the line directly from that. I don’t see it much. I see managers in our position handle themselves really well for 99.9 per cent (of the time) and sometimes that little bit comes out.”
“We have a lot of cameras on us,” said Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. “It’s happened to me as well many times (getting too emotional). I’d like to control my emotions but during those moments, in certain stadiums, sometimes it can happen. We want to respect the referees and everything involved in the game, but sometimes emotions are there.”
Klopp and Guardiola at Anfield, October 16 (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images).
Are you aware of how you behave during matches?
“I am very aware that I am going to be looked at by millions and millions of people, especially children,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe. “And I think you have an expectation to make sure the game is upheld in the right way and with the right spirit.
“I am certainly aware of my demeanour and behaviour on the touchline. That’s not to say I don’t want to win and I don’t want to win with every fibre of my being, because I do, but I’ve always just had that inside me not to lose my discipline.
“Also, my players are looking at me and what are they going to think of me? I’m not going to be able to help them in that moment if I’m not in control of my emotions.”
Howe doesn’t think losing your cool would help his team (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images).
Frank admitted he has reflected on his behaviour “a few times”.
“I think in general the fourth official gets too much abuse,” he added. “What can they do? Sometimes it seems like they are only there for us to let the steam out and can say something and I’m definitely doing that myself sometimes. We need to be better in that aspect.”
“It has always been my way to be calm,” said Rodgers. “There are obviously games that are more intense but it doesn’t take away your passion for the game. You don’t need to be running up and down the line and shouting, jumping and gesticulating to be passionate, you know. But I think we’re always aware of our conduct.”
“I’m certainly conscious of it,” said former Aston VillaThis week, Steven Gerrard was the boss. “I’ve made mistakes previously on the side and it takes time to calm down. But it’s because we all want to win games and do as best as we can individually for our teams. We want to show our supporters that we’re the leader of those teams. We’re human and mistakes happen.”
“We have to show, always, respect,” said Conte. “Sometimes you agree, sometimes you don’t agree with a decision. In the past, I was angry much more with the VAR, not with the referee’s decision, because the decision during a game sometimes is positive and you can take advantage. Sometimes it’s negative and you can argue.”
What can be done to change the narrative?
“Keep talking about it, keep being aware of it, try to create the relationship between each other,” said Frank. “Let’s say you and I went out for a drink every Thursday. That would be a sign of a good relationship. Then I think that’s better.
“If you have a very good relationship with a very good friend, it’s more difficult to be really angry with him. Of course, in the heat of the moment, we are all professionals, but I think it’s about creating a relationship which is most likely difficult because when do we have the time to do it?”
Frank thinks a greater dialogue between managers and officials would be helpful (Photo: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
“I can always live with good arguments,” said Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who suggested officials should explain their decisions more to help managers’ understanding. “It is not good when we are always jumping on referees. This is certainly not the right way to do things.
“It should be always in a respectful way and the referee should explain what he thinks. The fourth officials should also explain the reasons why and then I can live with it.”
“I think it’s constant reminders,” said Rodgers. “Behaviour is very, very important. It is possible to be competitive. You can fight tomorrow. But you must have a certain level of behavior. It’s sometimes harder to do that because there’s emotion, which at times wants to come out and explode but you try to remain calm and keep it inside but it has to come out somewhere.”
“We have to try and use common sense in every moment,” said Conte. “I know it’s not simple — I live the game with a great passion and you’re totally involved in the situation.
“The best is to find the right balance, for us to have great respect for the referee, the linesman, the fourth official. At the same time, it’s good (for referees) to understand the moment and to look at what happened and be intelligent.
“The respect has to be there for them and the referees have to show respect for us. Honestly, in England, there is great respect, I see that.”
“When we have our group chats as managers with the LMA (League Managers’ Association, the managers’ union),” said Gerrard, “and everyone is together with the referees — when we’re in a calmer situation — we make an effort to try and decide how we look as managers.
“But we’re not perfect. If you feel unfairly treated, it hurts. We want to win soccer matches. We’re also professional as well and we’re aware that sometimes we can overstep the mark and it doesn’t look good. When the dust settles we understand and recognise that we need to stay on the right side of it.”
(Top photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
