From the moment the first video began to circulate on social media, the suspicion was that it would only end one way for David Coote. And so it has proved.

After a series of controversies sparked by the emergence of footage last month showing the Premier League referee speaking somewhat disdainfully about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Monday afternoon announced Coote's services would no longer be required.

It was a sad but inevitable conclusion to a tawdry saga that saw Coote's professional and private life dragged into the spotlight with the leaking of further, similarly damaging videos.

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The subsequent investigation by the PGMOL ultimately deemed Coote's position "untenable". He will have the right to appeal, but the sheer weight of allegations - some which Coote vehemently denies - meant his sacking was the only course of action that could realistically be taken.

While the first revelations - which came to light less than 48 hours after Coote had officiated Liverpool's home Premier League win over Aston Villa on November 9 - were opportunistically used by some as a stick with which to beat Klopp in particular, that was missing the point. This was always about the impartiality of officials.

Not that there should any celebration among Coote's detractors. Due to misjudgements - some unfortunate, some less forgivable - a man has lost a high-profile job which he worked hard to attain over many years. It's difficult to envisage Coote officiating in England, and perhaps Europe, ever again.

Of course, Coote has, like everyone, a right to an opinion Indeed, his claim in the initial video that Liverpool were 's**t' could be described as being pretty generous if, as is believed, he was referring to the 7-2 Premier League loss at Aston Villa in October 2020. The Reds were absolutely appalling that day. And he certainly won't be the only person to have been rubbed up the wrong way by Klopp.

What did for the referee is his use of the word "German" when being particularly dismissive of Klopp. The welcome desire to banish racism and xenophobia means there was no way back from that, regardless of the other issues that later came to light.

Of course, Klopp privately has his own views on Coote, similar to every manager on every referee. And supporters and the media have regularly passed judgement on the official and his colleagues.

But while Coote naturally has his opinion on Klopp and others, the difference is he was in a position of control. He decided what happened to managers and players, not vice-versa. So once his views on individuals became public, it was over.

Just a shred of doubt over impartiality was sufficient. Howard Webb, the head of the PGMOL, may want officials to be more transparent, but the extent to which Coote became virtually see-through served no purpose to anyone.

The chat among some Liverpool supporters of Coote being part of a conspiracy was as misguided as those fans waving banners claiming Premier League corruption against their team, the new shorthand for simply feeling your club is not being treated as you would prefer.

Coote wasn't corrupt. He just wasn't as good at his job as many of his peers. And ultimately the manner in which the footage was leaked more than four years on suggests Coote's chief mistake may end up being his trust in another human being, a universal issue for everyone. Now he has paid the price.