Sevilla manager Eduardo Berizzo offers unusual explanation for sending off in draw with Liverpool

The Sevilla manager claimed that he was attempting to make up for earlier unsporting behaviour by throwing the ball away

Eduardo Berizzo claims he was attempting to behave in sporting manner (Getty)

Eduardo Berizzo, the Sevilla manager, has claimed that he was attempting to behave in a sporting manner when tossed the ball away at a Liverpool throw-in for the second time.

Berizzo was sent to the stands by referee Danny Makkelie in the second half of his side’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Anfield after throwing the ball away for the second time in the match.

The Argentinian offered an unusual explanation for his behaviour after the game, insisting that by throwing the ball away for a second time, he was attempting to atone for the first.

“In the first half, we were winning and Liverpool were on the counter-attack, I did something which was not right,” Berizzo said.

“I did throw the ball away, I was trying to waste time for my team and stop Liverpool from having a quick counter-attack. I realise that was a mistake.

“However in the second half when a similar thing took place and we were losing, I still decided to throw the ball away to try and make up for what I did in the first half. I had realised that was wrong and tried to do the sportsmanlike thing.

“I explained that to my counterpart Liverpool's manager and he understood but the only person that did not understand was the referee. The second one was with the right intention.”

Tempers flared on both benches during the incident as members of Sevilla’s backroom staff accused Klopp of influencing the referee’s decision to send Berizzo to the stands.

The Liverpool manager, however, denied that he had any impact on Makkelie’s call.

“I don't think I had any influence on the decision of the ref (to send him to the stands). I didn't ask for a red," Klopp said.

“I was not happy about throwing the ball away but we are fine. We spoke about this in the dressing room. He invited me, we spoke about it.”