Controversy sparked after Jurgen Klopp used the phrase "little tournament" to refer to the Africa Cup of Nations in a press conference following Liverpool's 4-0 win over Arsenal last Saturday, which forced the German coach to clarify his remarks in the presser after their 2-0 victory against Porto on Wednesday.
Klopp expressed his frustration about the fact that he will see three important players in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita join their national teams for the tournament that will take place this winter from January 9 to February 6.
The controversial phrase
Asked by a journalist after the Arsenal match about his opinion on the lack of international breaks until next March following three breaks that have taken place so far this season, Klopp stressed that there will be more international duels in the meantime.
"I've heard that so often that there's no international break until March," said Klopp.
"In January, there's a little tournament in Africa, I just want to say, and I think Asia is playing games, too. South America as well. Great, can't wait."
Klopp's clarifying remarks
When a journalist brought up Klopp's controversial phrase in the press conference after the Porto clash and claimed that the German tactician offended people from Africa, the Liverpool coach stressed that he didn't intent to displease anyone.
"I didn't mean it like that. I don't know why you understand it like that," responded Klopp.
"It's not even close to the idea in my mind that I want to talk about AFCON as a little tournament, or the continent of Africa like a little continent, not at all.
"What I meant is, because people said, and if you watch the full press conference, if you wanted to understand it in the right way you could have understood it in the right way. I said: 'There's no international break anymore until March' and I said: 'Oh and there's a little tournament in January,' and I didn't mean a little tournament, just like you say it when there's still a tournament. It's ironic. There's still a tournament. A big one. We lose our best players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I'm not a native speaker, but if you want to understand me wrong you can do that all the time. I know that I would never think like this. I never understand why you thought like this to be honest, but that's really not OK, because I would never do that, but that's it now.
"It was not my intention, but you made something of it. That's not so cool as well to be 100 percent honest."
Fenaeklos
0
Do any of you Afers understand sacarsm?
zihablnort
0
caf must change their schedule. Don't clash with the Mighty EPL.
Windersz
1
He's speaking ironically, "In January, there's a little tournament in Africa, I just want to say, and I think Asia is playing games, too. South America as well. Great, can't wait." He's asking people if the tournament in Africa is little? since no more international break till March
dowacklopy
0
Got no idea why Africa need to play at this time of the year its f'ing hot down south
Mozaiklo
2
He made no mistake with his statement above maybe u should calm down and read ur English properly,everyone says no more break till match he reminds them,that in January there’s a tournament in Africa why he used the word li2 was that he is talking about some games in Asia and South American too he add all these together calling them the little games that will come in that period of time but if u don’t want to understand it becomes ur problem
deobcdipsz
1
it's ok we are with you Klopp YNWA reds
Noecekmory
0
people who dont understand english but writing english to complain here looks stupid.
PrinzJaay
0
it was a deliberate statement it wasn't a mistake
Drink hot juice with no sugar then
Tenabcmpsy
1
CAF is a wasted if they keep those barbones as their executives. Qualifier matches are no where to be watch on like before. South Africa owns DSTV yet it can't show the Qualifier matches due to debt No reshow after some error or an act made by Player or Official Reschedule the tournament, Create your own TV Station and name it HERITAGE or AFRICAN SPORT
Sapcekmoy
0
kloop and liverpool shitt🤡
kid get yourself a logo.
Sapcekmoy
0
if you watch klopp press conferences then you would know that he wasn't trying to say that the AFCON was a small tournament. the journalist said there weren't any more intl break and he replied that there is a little tournament taking place. only a dumb ass won't see sarcasm.
lbcrna
0
it was a deliberate statement it wasn't a mistake
ankitttttttttrtr
0
journalists aways turn a small thing in a very big thing
It was not a small thing - you can’t disrespect a tournament like that acting it’s irrelevant. If you see the actual comments u will know it - he should say sorry n move on rather justififying
ankitttttttttrtr
0
AFCON Is a small tournament because no tournament clash with league matches like premier league,laliga .....don't take me wrong am an African.The caf made small tournament because I will not leave premier league to watch AFCON
Really bad u support kloppon such comments
yiwbdiluy
1
This is a lesson to CAF, people and player from all over the world have been agitate over this period but CAF insists on this period of time, any insult that come from anyone is cox by CAF
don't say that? CAF isn't the problem hear, will he refer to the world cup in Qatar is little because it will take place ending of next year albeit their whether is better then. same with Africa January is better because there will be no rain, infact the whether condition in Africa is better that January.
mekaceuy
0
literally, klopp made a mistake, so there is no need in trying to clarify ur statement just apologize and move forward
Fobnpstyz
4
look i dont think he meant to disrespect Africa at all. he just said everyone says there is no international break when there is a tournament in there. its like when you want to buy shoes but there is this little matter of getting money for it. In this case it means it is a huge deal. Him saying everyone says there is no international break and then saying what he said just means he meant the AFCON is a big deal which everyone seems to have forgotten about. He didn't say it wrong or mean it wrong. He needs not apologise.
joaimnpt
0
This is a lesson to CAF, people and player from all over the world have been agitate over this period but CAF insists on this period of time, any insult that come from anyone is cox by CAF
BAA™
2
Whether AFCON is a little tournament compared to those in Europe and America, referring it as such in the context is racist. Jorgen Klopp should just accept that he made a mistake, apologize and move on. There's no need defending or explaining anything here. The statement is literal for anyone to understand.
zauckmouz
0
kloop and liverpool shitt🤡
vucelpstz
1
Klopp need to admit he made a mistake tbh, it is true he never meant his statement in a derogatory manner but then such topics are highly sensitive in this age and he should have known better, so he should apologize even if he never meant it that way because to many people, it seemed as if he is looking down on the African continent in general as being small. Same with many Europeans, they think Africa is a country, in this age, that has got to change. Afcon is not a small tournament, it runs for almost a month with major players of different clubs competing in it, the winner gets to play in the FIFA confederations cup so it was a huge error on his side and he has to apologize.
Bisaderuz
1
The journalist is a Manchester Supprter 😂😂😂
bupacdnrs
0
AFCON Is a small tournament because no tournament clash with league matches like premier league,laliga .....don't take me wrong am an African.The caf made small tournament because I will not leave premier league to watch AFCON
Caf can plan our tournament any date they think comfortable for the people of Africa not because of some disrespectful coaches like klopp they should change date. When they playing their European championship no one can choose date or tell them about the tournament been little. It disrespectful to call our tournament little very much disrespectful. ur manager na lesbian
Red2021
0
AFCON Is a small tournament because no tournament clash with league matches like premier league,laliga .....don't take me wrong am an African.The caf made small tournament because I will not leave premier league to watch AFCON
Red2021
0
My brother AFCON is not a small tournament but the caf made it a small tournament.This is because no big tournament clash with league matches like premier league,laliga etc
Obk994
0
He should have just apologized to Africans and move on rather than try to prove a point, No one talks about schedule change for a whole world cup to suit some rich country but when it's Africa everyone have something to say
Obk994
0
we have played it for years why must we changes it...if a manger don't like it that's his storie or make the storie Short sell all ur African players 🤷
A lot of players complain it hot in summer so they agreed to move it to early part of the year which has a cool temperature compared to June July, I don't see anyone complain about world cup changed date because it's not africa right?
ruyaclmrty
1
Caf can plan our tournament any date they think comfortable for the people of Africa not because of some disrespectful coaches like klopp they should change date. When they playing their European championship no one can choose date or tell them about the tournament been little. It disrespectful to call our tournament little very much disrespectful
neomaleka
1
don't disrespect Africans, why are Africans been looked down all the time on everything. AFCON is not a small tournament these news reporters are so obsessed and disturbed with selling papers
China6655055
0
we have played it for years why must we changes it...if a manger don't like it that's his storie or make the storie Short sell all ur African players 🤷
Why would any team sell Salah and Mane? As a Liverpool fan, it is worrying to not have them on the team for any game. I’d be upset if any of the other important players had to miss a bunch of games.
medbistu
1
Africa has it's own and unique tournament which should be respected by all, regardless of when it is staged. If the European leagues find it disturbing when they lose players for AFCON duties, they should stop coming to Africa for recruitment of our players into their leagues.
dougiefresh
0
Masa that's klopp ooh.be quiet if not he will knack you another 5 at anfield...😃😃😃
remember ole is gone be careful of your words
pahclnsy
1
the master of excuses has just added another page to his book of excuses
Masa that's klopp ooh.be quiet if not he will knack you another 5 at anfield...😃😃😃
Haggius
0
A man disparaged a whole continent and excuses are coming from few of the same continent dwellers. Absurd!!
dougiefresh
0
African Cup of Nations... little or huge, why stage at a time when European football won't break for you...? Am African with reserved comments about this issue.
Africans does things in African way Europe does things European way, both wrong or both right
dougiefresh
2
the master of excuses has just added another page to his book of excuses
Saebnorty
0
journalists aways turn a small thing in a very big thing
it was not turn he said it... German don't respect African 🤷
Saebnorty
0
I don’t know why caf organize a tournament in January know very well that our African players ply the trade at Europe as a matter of fact there’s no tournament in the world be played at January it does make sense caf must reschedule the afcon so we start playing at the summer where all leagues are on break
we have played it for years why must we changes it...if a manger don't like it that's his storie or make the storie Short sell all ur African players 🤷
jihckort
0
I don’t know why caf organize a tournament in January know very well that our African players ply the trade at Europe as a matter of fact there’s no tournament in the world be played at January it does make sense caf must reschedule the afcon so we start playing at the summer where all leagues are on break
kaman95
0
That small Africa gave u Moho , Mane n Keita, u should respect that at least.
ELIKEMSAM
3
African Cup of Nations... little or huge, why stage at a time when European football won't break for you...? Am African with reserved comments about this issue.
dwa
2
journalists aways turn a small thing in a very big thing