Football NewsJurgen Klopp says the Premier League must do more to protect players
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Referees have been told to avoid giving fouls for “trivial offences” this season as the Premier League aims to let games flow instead of being interrupted constantly.

Klopp believes the recent changes to the rules put players at risk

Jurgen Klopp says the Premier League must do more to protect players following the recent rule changes in the division. Referees have been told to avoid giving fouls for “trivial offences” this season as the Premier League aims to let games flow instead of being interrupted constantly. Klopp was concerned by some of the challenges that avoided punishment during his side’s 2-0 win against Burnley on Saturday, as no yellow cards were issued despite 18 fouls being given in the match. The Reds manager believes the recent changes to the rules put players at risk but stopped short of making specific recommendations. “That was a proper test today and, honestly, I love football, I love all these challenges, all these kind of things, yes, but we came from protecting the players slightly more to letting the game all flow,” he said in a press conference.

Jurgen: ” I’m not the Pope of football”

“There is a grey area in between, which for sure we will have to adapt again during the season because, just now, letting the game run doesn’t sound like it makes too much sense. We still need to talk about different things.” He added: “I am not the Pope of football or whatever or any kind of priest who wants to tell the people what to do, really not. You might remember it when we started to talk about the elbow in the challenge; suddenly, all challenges in the air, we heard the whistle. It happened then that players started feeling something in the face even when nothing touched them because it always helped to do this, now there is a message, like a headline: ‘let the game flow’.

“It started with the penalties, ‘no soft penalties anymore’, which is absolutely fine. But we cannot forget that we have to protect the players as well and the challenges in the air. I don’t say they are all fouls, for sure not; most of the time, it is a clear challenge, but if you do this kind of thing constantly. There are different ways to play football. Obviously, that’s all fine; there were just a few harsh situations. We are early in the season, and I don’t want to open already the box of Pandora; I just think we have to speak about this kind of thing because the intensity of the season didn’t even start.”