Liverpool manager Graeme Souness had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute after making abusive comments to a linesman during their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. Souness had 14 days to respond and ask for a personal hearing. If found guilty, he was facing a healthy fine and a fourth touchline ban of his managerial career. All of this was coming at a time when the Merseyside manager was coming under increasing pressure to save his job.
Reports suggested that Souness was now set to ignore officials and fight the charges but was also likely to meet the Anfield hierarchy that week to discuss responding to the charge. He was banking upon the six witnesses who were on the Anfield bench to back his claim that he wasn’t constantly abusive.
