When, you ask, will football managers stop believing their own propaganda and pause for a moment of self-reflection and honesty?
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp cements his reputation among some referees as the worst, most obnoxious loser and then tries to characterize himself as the genius who loses himself for a moment.
Erik ten Hag’s players surround Craig Pawson like a pack of wolves and their manager, when accused of not controlling them, says: ‘I don’t think it was too strong. I don’t think it was really aggressive.’
Perhaps it’s time to introduce these two hugely influential and well-paid managers to the individuals without whom grassroots competitive football wouldn’t exist.
Individuals like Barry Cropp, a West Lancashire League umpire, north of Liverpool, who a few weeks ago had the audacity to give a red card to an Under 18s match.
The ensuing abuse, of the youths he refereed and their parents, came onto the field and approached the locker rooms, and continued as he walked across the parking lot with his wife.
Youth football is actually the only level of the sport Cropp will still be performing. He left Sunday League football last year after a match escalated into a 50-man brawl. But even where children play, the abuse has normalized and Northwest officials, on the doorstep of Klopp and Ten Hag, are taking the brunt.
Klopp ran down the sidelines after Mohamed Salah failed to get a free kick
The Belle Vale and District Junior Football League, in south-east Liverpool, parades the FA Respect logo on its letterhead, posters and decal.
But this year’s referees described how sickened they were of the abuse they received from children and parents, prompting the league to warn parents to show some discipline or risk losing officials altogether.
Saughall Colts in Chester have just shown a father and his child the door, so high was the level of abuse the parent dished out during an Under 13s game last week.
“Why punish the child?” a parent asked.
Klopp towered over the official to express his feelings as he was urged to calm down
‘We are not a daycare. Our coaches have enough to deal with,” the club responded, a correct comment.
Then there’s the Merseyside Youth League, where they canceled a slew of games over the weekend to make it clear they’re tired of referees being treated like a piece of dirt under the expensive replica boots the kids wear.
Keith Radcliffe was refereeing an under-11 match in the league when one of the parents living vicariously through his child launched a tirade of abuse, including calling the 56-year-old a ‘nonce’. Even the child was ashamed. “Stop it, Dad,” he cried.
Managers must accept that they are more than just commanders of their player staff – their actions have repercussions far into the pyramid
The FA’s revelation last week that 380 players were banned for attacking or threatening officials in English grassroots football last season passed almost without comment.
Klopp will not like that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who spoke very well yesterday about respect and setting an example, effectively called him out. Don’t be surprised if there are afters from the Liverpool boss about that at the end of the week.
Howe’s decision to speak may have been calculated, the latest fire in a new flank of warfare between Liverpool and the clubs in the Gulf state, which Klopp has been happy to open. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola will no doubt also be the epitome of laid-back sophistication when asked about his own behavior towards officials at Anfield and its consequences.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke well and insisted he would never behave the way Klopp did
Prepare to hear him think in that cool disinterested way that this isn’t a question for him.
Well, it actually is. Reflecting on how Premier League behavior is being imitated at youth and amateur levels, referee Peter Walton noted this week that the difference between Anthony Taylor at Anfield and the likes of Cropp or Radcliffe is vulnerability at the base.
“There are people who can protect referees in the Premier League,” said Walton. “That’s not true at Hackney Marshes or anywhere amateur football is played.”
A point that should prompt the Premier League’s leading gladiators to reflect and reflect, and lead to a change in behavior commensurate with their influence on the game. However, don’t hold your breath.