What David Coote said about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp raises uncomfortable question

The big story this week has undoubtedly centred around David Coote. On Monday afternoon a video emerged on social media of the Premier League referee appearing to make derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

A further video has since emerged that appears to show Coote snorting a white powder, which was said to have been shot during Euro 2024 where he was officiating.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) immediately suspended Coote pending a full investigation when the first video was posted and says it is also taking the white powder video "very seriously."

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UEFA suspended the 42-year-old on Wednesday and has now opened an investigation into his conduct, while his comments about Klopp are also being investigated by the FA.

The story has rocked English football. So what do our Liverpool FC fans' jury make of it? They have their say here...

Andrew Cullen

Most football fans were shocked and startled by the footage that emerged involving David Coote, regardless of which football team they follow.

Whilst I had to rub my eyes when I first viewed the video, Coote should not be made to do a walk of atonement, as some have been calling for. Referees are not paragons of virtue; they too have outbursts as we all do in our professional and private lives.

With that said, Premier League referees are accountable because they choose to be in the public gaze, and they choose to adhere to a set of professional standards, and on this basis, Coote has strayed knowingly or unknowingly into quick sand. It was concerning to hear the anti-Liverpool sentiment, but it was concerning still further to hear the xenophobic strain in the dialogue, which was unacceptable as it was contemptible.

The interesting question that arises from these events is to what extent referee bias shapes our game, if at all. Referees are supposed to fight for impartiality and defend integrity. They are also supposed to ensure that their decisions on the pitch are not alloyed with any prejudices.

If a referee holds such hostility to a club, is it possible that they may express such hostility subconsciously, if not consciously, in their decisions? Putting the Freudian analysis to one side, with the all-seeing big brother eye in VAR, who are always watching (though sometimes it feels they are not watching), is it likely that referees would allow their personal convictions infect their professional decision making? Some would say in response that those matters are not easily detached.

Football fans expect referees to treat all clubs equally. This saga will raise the question as to whether some clubs are more equal than others.

James Noble

Modern football, and life, throw up these somewhat surreal stories every so often. The video, allegedly featuring Premier League referee David Coote and another man offering expletive-heavy views on Liverpool and Jugen Klopp, has rightly brought criticism and questions. The language used and sentiments expressed are grim on several levels.

In many ways, the waters have become murkier and more troubled than they already were. Conspiracy theories – understandably or otherwise – never feel far away in this neck of the woods.

Such scenarios tend to produce a degree of frenzy – again, somewhat understandably, but not always healthily. Ultimately, it is surely in the vast majority’s interest that lessons and progress somehow come from this. It’s perhaps unclear quite how that happens currently; facts are still being gathered, context is being specified. The aforementioned frenzy feels like it is ongoing.

Contradictorily, in a sense, fresh clarity could perhaps be garnered from such situations. There is a need for referees to be held to a higher standard - there’s little getting away from that, and it’s now been brought into sharper focus. Simultaneously, their fallibility requires recognition. Plenty of pertinent questions need asking - and relatively broad changes may be necessary - but greater mutual understanding can, hopefully, be one outcome.

Rhys Buchanan

This week’s news around allegations facing David Coote most certainly helped pass the boredom the first few days of the international break usually holds. I think Gary Neville’s recent words around the referee not being ‘anti-Liverpool’ when officiating games come with their own agenda, once or twice perhaps, but when you look back over the sheer amount of serious and controversial decisions that have gone against the Reds, the evidence really doesn’t look good for the referee.

I still vividly remember my outrage and disbelief as he ruled Sadio Mane offside for our winning goal against Everton in the derby, a decision that in the moment left me questioning the point of continuing to follow the season when the basics can't be done right.

Ultimately though, it’s school playground humour from a professional who should have known a lot better that will have serious implications for the integrity of referees across the leagues. Let’s just hope this particular individual is nowhere near a Liverpool or Premier League game again.