CALL TIME ON KLOPP’S BIG HABIT OF ATTACKING THE LITTLE PEOPLE

NO ONE ever tell me again that football authorities are not in thrall to big-name, high-profile, celebrity managers.

They are.

Last weekend, Jurgen Klopp, not for the first time, showed disrespect for an honest, hardworking man and did not get so much as the slightest verbal reprimand.

In fact, it went completely under the radar.

Honestly, it is a wonder these officials keep their cool.

Assistant referee Gary Beswick did nothing wrong during Liverpool’s game against Brighton but had to suffer the ignominy of a fellow grown-up sarcastically applauding him. Not acceptable.

That the Premier League seem happy for the Football Association to do their disciplinary dirty work is another topic.

And it is not easy for the FA – but Klopp should have been brought to book. They are not alone but he and Pep Guardiola get away with relentlessly belittling officials.

Remember when Klopp ( below) marched on to the pitch to remonstrate with David Coote after the referee had got it right for once and not awarded a penalty when Johann Berg Gudmundsson had challenged Andy Robertson in the late stages of Burnley’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool in July?

That was not the first time Klopp had stepped over the white line to berate a referee.

Long gone are the days when managers knew their place was not on the pitch at any time.

The cult of the modern manager means they just

The last thing a ref or assistant should have to cope with is a semidemonic manager have to be centre stage. Blimey, Klopp even ran on to the pitch DURING a fairly recent Merseyside derby.

But it is the dissent towards officials that needs to be stamped out. The last thing a referee, or assistant, should have to cope with is a semidemonic manager. It sets a terrible example.

How about the Sunday league manager who thinks he is some sort of Klopp lite? Or a Pep wannabe?

One moment from two years ago that sticks in the mind was when Guardiola stomped on to the field after an FA Cup tie in Cardiff and repeatedly pointed at the face of Lee Mason.

Yet he received no sanction. The big names often seem to have carte blanche to behave as they want.

Anyone recall Klopp’s rant at fourth official Neil Swarbrick after Simon Mignolet had saved Diego Costa’s penalty in January 2017? Probably not, but suffice to say it was par for the course.

Yes, of course emotions run high during and immediately after a match. We get that.

During last Saturday’s big fight between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, BT Sport kept apologising for the unusually audible bad language coming from the cornermen. What did they expect?

Passion runs high and often foul- mouthed in any sport. Really no need to say sorry.

But respect for sports’ officials should be policed by the authorities with utter strictness, pretty much as it is in rugby.

And arguments about rulings should be fairly irrelevant these days in top-grade football.

In theory, injustice should be a thing of the past, thanks to VAR. Perhaps that is not entirely the case but it still does not excuse the habitual ranting at referees and their assistants.

It sets an example that is sadly followed all the way up from grassroots football.

Klopp is not the sole sinner. Far from it. But when he is seen to get away with the stunt he pulled at Brighton – no matter how trivial you regard it – the game, from top to bottom, is being done a disservice.

In the likes of Klopp, Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, we are blessed with wonderful coaches and wonderful characters.

But just a little more respect for the decent people who are trying to run the matches fairly would be nice. Not much to ask.