Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not in favour of ‘blue cards’ being introduced to the Premier League, suggesting matches could turn into the “wild west” if it was in place.
The German was speaking after his side’s 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield on Saturday. Dara O’Shea cancelled out Diogo Jota’s opener on the stroke of halftime, before Luiz Diaz and Darwin Nunez scored in the second half to seal all three points for the Reds.
Both Klopp and Vincent Kompany were booked by referee Tim Robinson, as were five players during the tetchy contest.
Reports this week claim The International Football Association Board (IFAB) are considering rule changes and the introduction of a blue card, which would be reserved for actions of dissent, cynical tactical fouls, and lead to a 10-minute sin-bin.
“It was emotional, definitely,” Klopp told Sky Sports after the game. “Imagine in this game and the referee has a blue card available? It would have been the wild west. There were so many yellow cards today.
“I had no clue why Vincent Kompany got it. I lost it in that situation so fine, give me a yellow card. As long as I don’t get a blue one and have to sit somewhere for 10 minutes!”
Reacting to his booking, Kompany told Sky Sports: “I’d say it’s a little bit to do with the game. I think I got booked because I should have paid attention to the fact that Jurgen Klopp got booked because then all I think the referee did was just went looking for me.
“I opened my arms out which I have done exactly that in many games. Then all of a sudden the card comes out. Out of nothing. Now I am suspended for the next game.
“I should have known it was just a way to balance it out and it doesn’t make sense, but hey, we have to keep going. No sulking.”
