Gary Neville recently addressed comments allegedly made by referee David Coote about Jurgen Klopp, following the release of a video that has sparked controversy. In the footage, Coote, a Premier League referee, appears to use harsh language when speaking about the former Liverpool manager.
As a result, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has suspended him, and UEFA has removed him from consideration for officiating duties.
Neville, a well-known pundit on Sky Sports, offered his views on The Overlap US, weighing in on the uproar surrounding Coote’s words. He admitted that Coote crossed a line, particularly with one specific term he used to describe Klopp. However, Neville doesn’t believe that Coote harbors any bias against Liverpool or that he intended to harm the club’s performance on the pitch.
Speaking candidly, Neville said, “He referred to Klopp using the C-word, which is definitely an intense and aggressive term. But beyond that word, I didn’t see anything suggesting that he was biased against Liverpool or trying to disadvantage them.” He continued by emphasizing the high standards to which referees are held, noting that Coote’s behavior does breach those expectations. Still, Neville expressed some discomfort at the thought of Coote potentially losing his job permanently. “I don’t feel at ease with [Coote losing his livelihood],” he said, adding that he doesn’t believe the referee is “anti-Liverpool.”
Neville also shared his own experiences with referees during his playing career. He mentioned that while there were referees he didn’t get along with and even suspected of harboring a certain level of bias, he never believed they were corrupt or actively working against his team. In his view, players tend to sense whether a referee simply doesn’t connect with them personally rather than assuming deliberate bias.
The video footage does not show Coote explicitly expressing disdain for Liverpool as a club. However, he uses a four-letter term to describe one of the team’s performances, and several times, he refers to Klopp in especially crude language. Neville also pointed out that the worst remarks came from the individual recording the video, who was later identified as former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt. In the recording, Kitt can be heard making derogatory comments about Liverpool fans in general, using language that crosses even more significant boundaries.
While Coote has had his share of run-ins with Liverpool throughout his officiating career, often finding himself in the middle of contentious calls that have affected the team, there’s no concrete indication that he harbored ill intentions toward them. According to Neville, it’s doubtful that Coote ever officiated a match with the goal of undermining Liverpool’s chances. Yet, after this incident, it seems unlikely that he will ever be assigned to another game directly impacting Liverpool. At this point, his career within the Premier League may be in jeopardy.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player and fellow pundit, is expected to share his thoughts on the matter in a statement scheduled for Thursday.
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