Ex-PGMOL chief tells David Coote he handled Liverpool moment 'really well' amid video controversy

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has praised David Coote for his handling of a controversial moment in Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa amid the referee’s current suspension.

Coote finds himself in hot water after a video leaked online allegedly showing him making foul-mouthed remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The 42-year-old has been suspended amid investigations by the PGMOL and FA, while his accomplice in the video has also been suspended from his own job.

The Nottinghamshire official has reportedly claimed responsibility for the video, although he insists he doesn’t recall the incident. According to The Times, he could now find himself being charged by the FA for an “aggravated breach” of its rules due to his rant on Klopp.

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The video appeared online just two days after Coote had taken charge of Liverpool’s game against Villa at Anfield. The Reds secured a 2-0 win to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.

The first of those strikes though did provide a moment of controversy. Coote appeared to wave away a foul by Leon Bailey as Salah broke toward goal, with the Villa winger the last man for his side which may have resulted in a red card.

Nunez though picked up the loose ball and guided it past Emi Martinez to give Liverpool the lead, leading to VAR not reviewing the incident between Bailey and Salah. Despite criticism from fans and pundits, former referee Hackett believes Coote did the right thing.

“First of all, the referee does really well,” Hackett told Football Insider.

“It’s very easy when two players come together to award the free-kick, and [Bailey] would then have faced a red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

“But the referee didn’t pull up, he had good vision and allowed play to go on.

“For me, the very nature of the goal being resulted, [is why] he doesn’t come back and dismiss the player for the foul on Salah.”

Liverpool.com says: It might have been a good decision from Coote if he had played an advantage, but replays seem to show him clearly gesturing that Bailey committed no foul, which is a quite astonishing decision considering Salah was clean through on goal. Nunez seriously saved his blushes there, although you’d hope VAR would have intervened had the Uruguayan not scored – mind you, that’s never a guarantee.