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'Got to be punished' - Former Premier League referee thinks David Coote made big Liverpool mistake
Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter has praised David Coote for his role in Liverpool’s opening goal in their 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. However, he also thinks the official made a big mistake in his handling of the strike.
Coote has since been suspended by PGMOL, pending an investigation into an historic X-rated video which circulated online that appears to show an expletive-laden rant against both the Reds and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
The footage emerged on social media on Monday - two days after Coote had refereed Liverpool’s victory over the Villans. And in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s game, a handful of his decisions came under-fire.
READ MORE: PGMOL launch investigation after alleged David Coote X-rated rant at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp
Darwin Nunez scored the Reds’ opening goal as he rifled home after rounding Emiliano Martinez. But the opportunity only fell his way after he ran onto a loose ball after Leon Bailey, who was Villa’s last outfield man, appeared to take out Mohamed Salah when the Egyptian was clean through on goal.
Coote appeared to signal that he did not see Bailey’s challenge as a foul, with Nunez’s quick-thinking ensuring such a decision would not need to be challenged by VAR.
Former Premier League referee Winter has defended Coote, insisting he played a brilliant advantage. However, he criticised the official for not going back to book Bailey for the challenge on Salah as he accused him of ‘abdicating his responsibilities’.
“Leon Bailey couldn't be sent off in the terms of the tackle,” Winter told Grosvenor Casino. “Because if you're talking about denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, he didn't deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
“He most certainly tried to. If the referee had blown the whistle, then he would have denied it. But the fact the referee was on his toes on this occasion, he played the advantage.
“Can you imagine the furore if the referee had blown up, then the ball ends up in the back of the net and they get a free kick? Alright, he gets a red card, but then they get a free-kick, 25/30 yards away from goal.
“It was good refereeing in this instance. He made the right decision in allowing the game to continue, because if it was a serious foul-play challenge, then there's an argument for not allowing the game to continue because the ball doesn't end up in the net, and then you've got 20 players brawling.
“But in not going back and cautioning him, he's got that one wrong. He might have been basking in the reflective glory of what a brilliant advantage Liverpool have scored because, as referees, there's nothing better than playing an advantage and the ball ends up in the net.
“But you mustn't abdicate your responsibilities. So, there’s a big plus for the referee in allowing Liverpool the advantage, but also a significant minus because, those sorts of challenges, the cynical ones, have got to be punished.”
