Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remains steadfast in his opposition to the use of freeze frames and slow-motion footage in determining red-card offenses, following Curtis Jones’s unsuccessful appeal against a three-match ban.
Liverpool’s appeal was denied on Tuesday evening regarding Jones’s dismissal in the first half of their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Initially, Jones was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Yves Bissouma, but referee Simon Hooper upgraded it to a red card after VAR Darren England urged him to consult the pitchside monitor.
Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a press conference at Anfield on October 04, 2023 in Kirkby, England.
Klopp had already called for a replay of the game due to a VAR miscommunication that led to a valid goal from Luis Diaz being disallowed, despite the offside check indicating that it should have been allowed.
With Jones now sidelined from Premier League action until November, Klopp believes another incorrect decision has been made.
“We talk about the VAR process and how they communicate, but in this game, there was another situation where Curtis Jones received a red card, and I maintain the opinion that it was not a red card,” Klopp said. “The referee was called to the screen and saw a frozen picture for the first three seconds. I would have immediately given a red card based on that frozen picture. Then he saw the replay in slow motion, and I would have given a red card for the slow motion.
“But it’s not a red card. We appealed it, and the FA panel says it’s not a clear and obvious mistake, but I think it is. The referee’s initial decision was a yellow card. The clear and obvious mistake was showing a frozen picture and slow motion. We won’t have Curtis back for playing, that’s how it is, fine.”
Substitute Diogo Jota was also shown a red card later in the match for two bookable offenses against Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie. Klopp added, “Diogo Jota received two yellow cards for not touching a player once. That is also unprecedented, I would say.
“That’s all fine. We can take a lot from this game. I saw a wonderful, wonderful team fighting against all odds in an incredibly fair way. I’m not sure how we ended up with eight cards, which is a strange one, but that’s it.”
