Gary Neville breaks silence on David Coote video and suggests alternative Liverpool punishment

Gary Neville does not believe David Coote's criticism of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp should cost him his job as a Premier League referee.

A video of the Nottinghamshire official describing former Liverpool manager Klopp as a 'German c---' surfaced on the social media platform X earlier this week, and has dominated the Premier League news agenda over the last couple of days.

The footage is believed to have been recorded several years ago but only came to light on Monday, and Coote was suspended by the PGMOL pending a full investigation.

There have been calls for Coote to be stood down as a Premier League referee permanently, but Neville believes that would be an excessive punishment.

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• The five Premier League referees who are already barred from refereeing Liverpool matches

“It will bring great disappointment to David and the refereeing community," Neville told The Overlap US. "He has called Jurgen Klopp the c-word which is obviously a very aggressive word. But I didn’t see anything within his words that told me he had influenced decisions in a wrong way, or that he was trying to do Liverpool over.

"I hope they can get through it. If there had been any suggestion that he was making decisions against Liverpool or another club, I would say he has to go. He has called a manager a word because he has a bad relationship with him and they have had an argument.

"It was very sloppy. I am sure it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. But from a point of view of cancelling him, I am not sure. The minute you cancel him as a Premier League referee, you are effectively cancelling him from the game. I am not sure any organization would look at him and offer him the chance to join.

"I actually think the worst words in the video were said by the guy sat next to him – ‘I hate scousers’. Because that demonstrates a hatred to a group of people, which includes Liverpool and Everton.

"David Coote never said those words himself. He has been stitched up and it is a mess. It looks like he has got drunk and let his mate film him, which is stupid. We have all done silly things when we have had too many drinks."

Neville believes a more appropriate course of action would be to ensure Coote is not involved in any Liverpool matches going forward. He added: "It could become impossible for him to go into Premier League grounds or referee Liverpool again. We know that certain referees don’t take charge of matches at Old Trafford or Anfield or at other grounds because of their allegiance. For David Coote to be removed from Liverpool games would be a good step.

"In employment law, if you call someone a name, it is a warning. I don’t feel it is a sacking or dismissal. Taking him off Liverpool games and giving him a final warning is what I think should happen, not to lose his entire career. I don’t feel it has crossed that line."