Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has suggested that David Coote may have been “fortunate” in a controversial moment during Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa, a match where Darwin Nunez’s goal ultimately lessened the scrutiny on Coote’s decision-making.
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory saw Nunez break the deadlock at Anfield in the 20th minute, but Gallagher believes the incident leading up to that goal could have brought Coote’s officiating under harsher criticism.
The contentious moment arose from a rapid Liverpool counterattack in which Mohamed Salah was played through on goal, facing only Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez. Just as he neared the penalty area, Salah was brought down by Villa’s Leon Bailey, but instead of halting play or showing a potential red card for a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity, Coote gestured for play to continue, deeming there was no foul.
Gallagher, analyzing the situation on Sky Sports‘ Ref Watch, argued that he would have handled the situation differently. He expressed surprise at Coote’s decision to ignore the apparent foul on Salah, insisting that he would have immediately blown the whistle to take control of the play and address the challenge directly. “If I was the referee,” Gallagher explained, “the moment Salah got clipped, I’d blow my whistle. That would give me control, and I could justify stopping the game to send [Bailey] off if I needed to.” Gallagher emphasized that Coote appeared to believe it wasn’t a foul, signaling “no foul” twice as play unfolded.
Gallagher further highlighted how Coote was somewhat fortunate because Nunez ultimately scored, rendering the debate over Bailey’s tackle moot. Had Martinez saved Nunez’s shot or knocked it out for a corner, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could have recommended a review of the challenge on Salah for a potential red card, he pointed out. By contrast, if Coote had allowed play to continue without intervention, VAR could not have intervened. “He’s a lucky ref because Nunez has scored,” Gallagher concluded.
For Liverpool supporters, Coote’s decision to ignore the incident was tempered by Nunez’s goal, but Gallagher’s comments raise questions about Coote’s interpretation of the incident, suggesting it could have impacted the match’s outcome had Nunez missed. The fact that Salah seemed to be denied a clear goalscoring opportunity led to frustration from many viewers, especially given that Coote never saw the challenge as worthy of even a foul.
The incident involving Coote has come under additional scrutiny due to separate allegations after a video surfaced online in which a man, allegedly Coote, is heard making inflammatory comments about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. In response, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body responsible for referees in English football, has reportedly suspended Coote with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the video’s content.
This latest development could have significant implications for Coote’s future as a referee. Should the individual in the video be confirmed as Coote, it could potentially end his chances of officiating Liverpool games, or even other high-profile fixtures, in the near future. PGMOL now faces the difficult task of conducting a transparent investigation to rebuild trust in the refereeing body and ensure that incidents like these do not compromise the integrity of officials on the field.
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