“Untenable.” – Paul Gorst On ‘Shocking’ David Coote Rant On Ex-Liverpool Boss | OneFootball

English football was rocked this week by a series of videos featuring Premier League referee David Coote. What looked set to be a quiet week for news was turned upside down on Monday, with the release of a historic video showing Coote making a series of offensive remarks about former Reds boss Jürgen Klopp.

The situation went from bad to worse the following day after a clip was published appearing to show the referee snorting white powder.

Questions have been raised over whether an official showing such animosity towards a manager could be relied upon to judge the game impartially. The 42-year-old has been involved in several controversial decisions whilst refereeing Liverpool on the pitch and on VAR duty.

On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked the Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent Paul Gorst for his thoughts on the Coote saga.

The Redmen TV are proudly partnered with Dr. Emrah Cinik

Paul said:

“He’s criticising the ex-manager, or making a disparaging remark about his character. It was all very tawdry, wasn’t it? All very 4am in someone’s kitchen after you’ve been for a bevvy or whatever else. I was shocked by its timing.

“The referee world has opened itself up to further allegations, conspiracy theories, critiques, whatever you want to call them.

“He’s made reference to Klopp’s nationality, which can be looked at under the prism of xenophobia and or racism, and that’s where I think Coote is going to have his real problems.

“It just seems like his position is untenable, so maybe his last game as a Premier League referee will be that Liverpool win.

“Coote certainly could have done without it, that might be him finished as a professional referee. The Pickford one in particular was a scandalous decision when you’ve got the ability to have VAR. The force of that challenge basically ends Virgil van Dijk’s season.

“I just think that will be Coote finished now, I don’t see how he can possibly come back from that with a slap on the wrist, with a demotion for a period of time. It surely will be the end of him as a professional referee.”

REDMEN REACTS

It is understandable that referees may hold negative views of certain managers, and Jürgen Klopp has found himself in hot water in both England and Germany for his explosive temperament and treatment of officials. Unfortunately for David Coote, his staggering lack of judgement in allowing those views to be filmed and published will likely spell the end of his career in the top flight. His decision-making came under question as recently as last Saturday, with his incomprehensible judgement that Mo Salah was not fouled by Leon Bailey when he was clean through on goal. The PGMOL have an extremely difficult job on their hands with regard to containing the situation and reassuring fans that their officials are making truly objective judgements when taking to the pitch. Who said this international week was going to be dull?!