Is it one rule for certain managers and another for others?
Manchester United supporters are demanding some kind of punishment for Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager aggressively threw a water bottle to the ground late on in his side’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Friday night.
Having conceded three goals in the space of five minutes, Liverpool rescued a point courtesy of a Roberto Firmino strike which was too hot for Gunners goalkeeper Petr Cech to handle and, in celebration of the goal, Klopp hurled his bottle to the Emirates turf.
Just last year, United boss Jose Mourinho was hit with a one-match ban and a £16,000 fine for kicking a bottle in anger during a game with West Ham.
Klopp was clearly aware that he had wandered into dangerous territory as he was quick to offer an apology after the final whistle.
“I was happy and it was a kind of aggressive happy,” Klopp said.
“I have made my apology but the people (Arsenal fans), if they would all apologise for what they said to me, it would take a little bit longer than my apology.
“I react sometimes a little bit strange.
“Maybe it’s not nice. The ref told me. But I took it back and I could still empty it afterwards so nothing serious.
“I was not happy about that moment but I really thought it was the least we deserved. That’s how I felt.”
Apology or not, United supporters felt that the FA simply had to punish the German’s behaviour or risk being accused of inconsistency and favouritism towards certain clubs.
Plenty of people have noticed/said it and last night confirmed it: Klopp enjoys preferential treatment on the touchline. Zero difference in him launching bottle and Mourinho doing the same (except one got a 1 game ban and £16,000 fine).
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawTel) December 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/LukeInman1/status/944494487589486592
Again double standards, Mourinho kicks a water bottle gets a touchline ban, Klopp very agressively throws it at the ground and gets a talking to by the referee 👌 Well done @FA
— A Manchester United fan (@amatchgoingfan) December 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/stevienics/status/944464423762251776
Let's just get this straight.
Klopp launches a bottle of water on the touchline. Nothing happens
Mourinho kicks a water bottle on the touchline and gets a ban.Can someone explain logically?
— Shiv (@Rapid19Rashford) December 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/EricTheKing_99/status/944324251720540160
It's high time Klopp gets a ban. If Mourinho threw that bottle, he'd be sent off to Portugal. #ARSLIV
— Manan (@MananCFC) December 22, 2017
Soz as Klopp threw a bottle I'm assuming a ban and bid fine incoming @fa…
— Inactive – FT is cancerous. (@Mufc_inactive) December 22, 2017
