Jurgen Klopp’s assistant Peter Krawietz says the Reds players and staff could hear the officials ‘singing, partying and drinking’ in the changing room next to them following the defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final.
Then-45-year-old Milorad Mazic of Serbia was the official in the middle in Kyiv and it seems that he and his assistants were in a celebratory mood post-match.
Speaking to The Athletic, Krawietz said: “In Kyiv, the dressing room was like a sickbay. Imagine that you get in there and one guy [Mo Salah] has already been to the hospital and is now back, in pain and crying.
“And then you hear your opponents celebrating. And in the dressing room next door, the referees are celebrating as well. I don’t know why, but they were singing and partying with a case of beer. For us, it was awful.”
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Krawietz is right to be surprised. It was a big night for the officials – probably the biggest match of their careers – but even so, you would think they would have a little more respect for the losing side, especially after the manner in which the Reds lost. The celebrations could surely have waited a little longer than that.
The Reds players, of course, bounced back from that defeat and ended up winning number six in Madrid. As well as winning the Premier League, retaining the Champions League this season will be the Reds’ main aim.