Referee David Coote suspended after video goes viral

The CPS has just opened an investigation Brent.

He's looking at 10 years.

RS fans are now demanding three league titles be given retrospectively due to poor refereeing decisions made by Coote…

Kinda feel sorry for Coote… suspended and likely removed altogether from the referees list for telling the truth!!

Rob

I wonder why the official took charge of the Aston Villa game on Saturday at the other place? if he had something hanging over his head, or did this footage only appear since Saturday?

According to whoscored.com, Coote has only taken charge of six games that involved Liverpool and seven games involving Manchester City. He must have some power to influence the outcome of three titles.

David Coote suspended for telling the truth.

Foolish man, it was bound to be seen on social media

But he's right about Klopp, the big Shergar smile was only a front, he got away with his comments about referees when it didn't go his way.

Christy,

As I replied to Rob earlier, I can't understand why a man who has officiated only half-a-dozen matches would lead to the other lot to then claim 3 titles, due to biased refereeing.

But then I read it's about his time in the VAR box that's got the other lot dreaming. He was amongst other things, involved as VAR official, in the nasty Pickford against the wholly innocent Dutchman derby.

What the feck is incorrect and unfair here?

David Coote: Jurgen Klopp is “fucking arrogant” and a “German cunt”; a “Cunt. Absolute cunt, he accused me of lying and then just had a right fucking pop at me. And I've got no interest in speaking to someone who's fucking arrogant."

The FA were so lenient on some of his comments about referees, he could give it but not take it.

Remember he said to Paul Tierney, "I have no problem with referees only you" — and got away with it, and the famous derby with Pickford blunder in the last minute, and ran onto the pitch?

Haha. What an idiot.

Then whoever was with him can be heard saying to not let the tape get out!

Seriously. Coote needs to find some new friends.

And he's an idiot.

The only thing I could see wrong with the video:

He didn't say what a negative cunt Dyche is!

What's he done wrong? Sad times when you can't speak the truth without gettin' into hot water.

The only thing missing, which woulda been brill had he said it, is him saying "Oh and Kopites are gobshites by the way."

LOL Brian

Brian……

Every Single One Of Them!!

No wonder he's not a great ref. Probably hasn't had a full night's sleep in four and a half years, figuring that sooner or later that tape was going to jump out and bite him.

Seriously, this is a moronic moment for a guy who at the time had been in the Prem for just over two years (after working to get there for 20). Talk about arrogance. I don't have much use for the Mail, but Ian Ladyman is right that Coote has made life a bit more miserable for every ref everywhere:

This is exactly what the conspiracy theorists have been waiting for. Coote and his sickly preening vanity has handed it to the mob on a plate. This is their ‘told you so’ moment and, further down the line, the yearly struggle to recruit referees at all levels of the game has just grown that little bit harder...

He has failed every referee who has ever made a wrong call — in other words, all of them. In a world of VAR chaos and at a time when standards never really seem to improve, Coote has gone a long way to stripping away the one remaining layer protecting officials from the mob, their presumed objectivity.

The relationship between players, managers and referees is built on mutual trust. It has to be. Usually it is the players we accuse of failing to keep their end of the bargain. But the last image we have of Coote, the last one we may ever have, is that of him waving away a clear red-card foul by Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey on Mo Salah at Anfield on Saturday.

‘No foul’ was the call and though we all saw it for the mistake that it was, we presumed human error. We did not presume bias, malicious intent or pleasure taken. Now many people will presume exactly that. So there it is, the damage is done.

This is the harm rendered by Coote and his desperate piece of iPhone vanity. This is the damage felt all the way to the roots of the game.

Wonder what his next career will be.

Players and managers abuse refs every matchday. Nothing to see here… and he was right about Klopp and Liverpool.

They are exactly what he called them.

This just convinces me that refs having to attend "press conferences" after a game would make marvelous TV.

Although for a moment, I thought that it might tempt the Premier League Executive to do something about refereeing standards… silly idea, one rule for some and another for others.

Mike, I enjoyed reading your post. Just about sums the situation up. I seem to remember you have refereeing experience.

I started reffing approx 40 years ago, at a young age, about 17 years old. I didn't really enjoy the experience. Reffed a few matches from the Junior Leagues to Sunday 'pub' football.

O gave up after a few months when I realised I was engineering results based on what I thought of the teams and how they treated me. I spoke to the guy in charge of the ref association who suggested I shouldn't worry as 'we all do that from time to time, it's human nature'.

Also, I wasn't so keen on some players having small knives concealed in their socks…

Good luck to David Coote

What amazes me is that a video filmed on a phone over four years ago, is still on that phone. I’m assuming the phone belongs to the other person in the video, so Coote must have really upset him for him to release the video.

I have said I believe that the game isn’t straight with regards the standards of refereeing and the select nature of VAR, for a very long time now, but nothing in Cootes, ridiculously, not very well thought out statement, (possibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol?) gives me any reason to say I told you so.

Jurgen Klopp, is a bully, and at the time of this incident Liverpool, were playing shite. Everton got a penalty at Anfield, Burnley got a pen at Anfield, and I’m sure Liverpool conceded a few more penalties at home that season, with no fans in the ground, which is something that never really happened before and hasn’t happened since, either.

I think the only penalty Everton have had at Anfield, in my living memory was given with no crowd and yet Lampard got a fine for kind of calling this out, when Anthony Gordon was denied an absolute stonewaller, not long after we got our only pen.

Mike (13) Mike you are a referee, maybe you think like a referee, we fans think like fans, not like a mob but individually, and here you have Ian @ (16) being completely honest and saying he let the players and their actions get to him in making decisions and being advised by a much senior referee not to worry because we all do it from time to time it’s human nature, yet you say “ We did not presume bias” among other things talking about Coote not giving a penalty to Liverpool in the Villa game. I see wrong decisions made every week with exactly the reverse foul being ignored by the same referee while being given to the opposing team!

“Also, I wasn't so keen on some players having small knives concealed in their socks…”
Kirkby by any chance, Ian??
I’ve played against such a team. Knives in the touchline as well.
And it was a schools match.
We had to change in the mini bus as they had a gauntlet to the changing rooms waiting for us.

Dave, have to also admit that I captained a junior sunday league team when I was about 16 and our home pitch was at a local mental health institute. One of the in-patients sadly had psychiatric issues but loved football and always wanted to run the line. So we allowed him to be our home linesman and we decided we could defend high up because we had trained him to raise his flag when we shouted offside, which was nearly every time the opposition got across the half way line.

:)

Refs were mostly fooled by it!

VAR would have had a field day

Mark, not Kirkby, South West London/Surrey areas.

Also, Mark, your changing in a mini bus reminds me of the time I played for a council team and we were instructed to arrive at matches in our kit or change in the cars as the home changing rooms had asbestos. It was ok for the opposition to use the changing rooms. The council just didn't want their employees to sue .

MOTD looking for a new host. Give it to Coote it'll be a hoot. Saying it like it is. Telling Smurphy to shut up. Sending Shearer off for being an arrogant sod. Interviewing Pep and asking him why he's whinging git when they lose. Interviewing Dycje and enquiring how he got his FIFA licence, allowing him to coach.

The last penalty that Liverpool conceded at Anfield according to Siri, was against Everton, in February 2021. Nearly four seasons without conceding a penalty at home? I find this stat absolutely incredible, and then my sensible mate just text me to say he can’t have a decent conversation with me sometimes, (I said Klopp is a bully) because Klopp is actually the victim🙈

I’m sure Cootes, was talking about the game when Klopp, was walking down the tunnel towards the doors, shouting at Sean Dyche, who just put his hand up and walked away telling the bully to fuck off? Duncan Ferguson, would have held the door open and used his hand to invite Klopp, to come inside and talk to him, but you know Bully’s, they always pick their mark!!!

Statmuse has just told me that Liverpool conceded nine penalties during the lockdown season, but it didn’t say how many were at Anfield.

Howard Webb, another phoney, said Everton were the only crowd to get to him, closely followed by Stoke city🙈 If this is true then there must surely be an unwritten rule, exempting certain stadiums?

Cootes is finished, and yes I do wonder why it’s just come out now Rob? Is it because he never paid his Charlie bill? Is it because poor Jurgen the victim, is no longer managing Liverpool? Either way it’s out there and it definitely looks like his career, is over now.

He is a bully. He is arrogant. He got fined for running onto the pitch for improper conduct at the Anfield derby.

I personally think all Cootes is guilty of is his choice of language. Leave out the c-word, I hate that, and maybe not use German. If he's a bit calmer and keeps his head, he can get his point across in a more balanced way.

Supporters will hurl abuse, but he's in a position of authority, so has to control himself and the situation.

Cootes was on VAR, when Van Dyke, got injured at Goodison, so the Liverpool fans might be right and he might have had a problem with regards Liverpool FC.

He was also on VAR, for the last two derby games sending Pawson (very fucking poor son) to the monitor, to check the handball by Michael Keane, (isn’t the letter of the law so condescendingly off putting at times? - it is to me, it’s why I’m actually watching a lot less football these days) and also the game at Goodison, when DCL, got a borderline decision chalked off and then they were looking at Branthwaite’s goal, for an absolute eternity.

Imagine listening to the conversations, if these fella’s, could get all the different referee’s - off their heads - and then got them to talk about all the people they don’t like? There would be no officials left to referee after the international break if this happened!!

There are rumours now that the video may have been tampered with using AI.
Be interesting to see what comes out of it.
Personally I think it would be really unfair if he lost his job due to things he'd said to so called friends in a "private" conversation.
Having said that now it's out there it might be very difficult for him to referee in the premier league again.

Tony, was Coote on VAR in the Derby when Pawson didn’t book and then red card Konate for a second yellow. Whether VAR can intervene for a second yellow and consequently a red, I don’t know, but Konate should have walked. Klopp subbed him immediately afterwards.
Brian@27
If private conversations were made public I imagine a lot of managers would have very red faces.

Whether AI or real, there's strong on-field evidence to suggest a degree of bias and that this video could be a life-like scenario even if proven not to be real.

i.e. How many times have we seen the exact same fouls given to some and not others?

If it's real, then he lost perspective and was too arrogant himself, thinking no one would find out.

The really disappointing aspect is the RS will take it personally, disregarding the affect non-recorded conversations have had on other teams.

Why do PGMOL consistently use the same officials, including members of the VAR team for certain fixtures? That's a recipe for conspiracy theories, in itself. A different set of officials should be used as often as is possible, rather than having so-called 'elite' officials for certain fixtures.

I just wonder who and how Coote upset for the video to be released, as his last words are' Boys, this better not get out!'

Don't agree with the Ian Ladyman quote as most think LFC are twats anyway and not just us. But he has done another great bit of pearl clutching. Oh my days, that referee chappie just called Mr Klopp a cunt, I feel faint!!!

Hypothetical bet is had he said the same things about EFC or Forest then I would say we would have been fined for being unkind to the referee.

According to Sports Bible, he was, Ray.

Can't we start a Coote Wuz Rite campaign?

Get some tee-shirts printed.

Free the Coote

Don't Give Coote The Boot

I agree Michael. Coote has been suspended for telling the truth. Bingo is an arrogant cunt, who got away with absolute murder during his time at the RS. From running on the pitch celebrating a goal, to giving the fourth officials down the banks just because something didn't go his way. As soon as something is said against him, that club and its vile fans go into meltdown!

COYB
FTRS
KAGS.

Rob, as we all know Liverpool FC have their own set of rules, and always will.

For years the unofficial referees advisor Gerrard was reffing matches in the Rednecks favour and getting away with it. The truth hurts.

It really doesn't matter whether Coote was right or not – he's done a great disservice to the game of football by fuelling the argument that "all referees have an agenda". Most probably don't but officiating has just become an awful lot harder now.

I, as a supporter, can agree with Coote. It's something we all might say down the pub. But for him to allow this video to be even recorded – what sort of idiot is he? He can't officiate again.

Jack # 22 - Fucking brilliant.

Tony@32
If Coote was on VAR then he did Klopp a huge favour in not drawing Pawson’s attention to what would be a red card, which would have seen Konate walk. Klopp didn’t say much about that as I recall!

I remember playing in the business house league back in the seventies when a taxi drove onto the pitch, the passenger jumped out and gave one of the opposition a "good seeing to".

He calmly got back in the taxi, which sped off.

Talking of amateur football, team I played for had a Sunday County FA junior cup game against the Netley. It Was on county road, but not sure if it’s still there or not?

Anyway, the game was played up in Bootle on Stuart Road. We has about 2 or 3 subs, one of the lads dads, and another lad on our touchline. They had a line the length of the pitch!

First half was ok, only because we were losing 2 - 1 at half time. Second half was completely different. We equalised then took the lead. They started getting a bit narky with a few getting booked. We went 4 - 2 up and then it really kicked off. They had four sent off, and every player, including subs, bar one, was booked. Their line started encroaching onto the pitch, and cos I was in goal seemed to be heading in my direction. I remember seeing one or two knives, with the usual threats of “You’re dead at the end “. The referee told our captain that he was going to blow the full time whistle, and tell the rest of us to get our bags, which were on the touchline, and get out of there. Luckily nothing happened, and the only one of theirs either not booked or sent off, came over to us and apologised for what had happened.

Needless, the Netley were kicked out of whatever league they were in, I think the Liverpool Sunday league, never to be heard of, or seen again!

I played in the Northern Irish league, Rob, and saw my name on the BBC!!

I used to get paid.

We used to have some tough matches, especially when we went to West Belfast and the opposition realised the two centre-backs were English (one of them me).

We played our home matches on the pitches at the Police Headquarters in Belfast. Fantastic pitches. Chelsea used to use them for pre-season.

I always remember one match we played against Donegal Celtic. They aren't from Donegal but play in Celtic colours. They refused to use the facilities and turned up off the coach in their kits and went straight to the pitch. They didn't stay for sandwiches or drinks, just straight back on the coach!!

Cracking story, Rob.

The Netley was about 50 yards to the left of the Oak, towards town, and was decent for a pint in the day. Long since gone and now a fast food joint.

In many ways, the game sadly hasn't changed...

There's many stories in the non-leagues of players and referees getting assaulted, and of fighting after the games between opposing managers and players in the players' lounge.

But let's hope that no Everton, players get injured this week on international duty.

Brian Williams @27:

Having said that now, it's out there; it might be very difficult for him to referee in the Premier League again.

Brian, I can think of 19 clubs who would welcome him with open arms and give him a hero's welcome mate!

The Netley has a proud legacy where the early days of the Internet are concerned. It's where the denizens of the old ToffeeNet/Bluenose mailing lists would meet before and after home games and where the Netley Tactical Assault Squad would plan ticketing for away trips.

It was sad when it was no more but its spirit lives on in a WhatsApp group with many of the old gang from back in the day...

I’ve told you before I think Rob, but after the Netley, got thrown out of the league, they amalgamated with The Sandon, and ended up going through all the divisions before eventually winning the top league a few times. People used to assume it was The Sandon, next to Anfield, but it was actually The Sandon Dock, and I spent many happy years playing for and even managing them on Edinburgh Pk.

The dockers was home to three teams, The Sandon, The Canada (A3) and The Seymour, and I’m sure it is still remembered very fondly by the same people who must also miss the place at times.

I’ve shook my head a few times at the outrage this has caused, especially when someone suggested that because I’ve been saying the game isn’t straight for years and I’ve finally been given the proof, he couldn’t understand it when I disagreed with him!

I used to love The Netley, back in the day Lyndon, and can remember just before it closed how there would just be stacks and stacks of crates of lager behind the bar. £1 a can, and enough beer to last a fortnight, but it would all be gone before the night was over. Great days!

The Netley, many a night spent in their on pints of Double Diamond.

Of course the redshite and Klopp are always the innocent party, the FA nearly always threw the bus at Jose, but Klopp was mister nice guy, who could say what liked and they turned a blind eye, Coote sadly said outloud what everyone else was thinking. Sadly for him there's no coming back from this.

This is shocking. How could anyone call Klopp that? 😆.

Looking back it was amazing how many pitches in Liverpool there was/is. A few spring to this old brain of mine. Clubmoor, Stanley Park, Crawfords, Wavertree, Dwerryhouse, Dockers Club, Newsham Park, Kirkby, Aigburth, Speke, everywhere. And, most of all, the characters that played on them. Great memories

#Free_Coote!

Ahhh! Sunday league footy. I remember playing in the Business house league late '70s to mid '80s.

We were playing a cup match versus a team from Toxteth, they had dozens watching on the sidelines telling us how shite we were and what they were going to do to us.

We were 2-1 down with a couple of minutes left and I was running onto a pass down the touchline, went past their last man, then noticed a leg appear from the touchline, managed to hurdle over it and thought "I'm in here" only to get pole-axed by a stray hay-maker from the crowd 10 yards further down the line!!

The Ref promptly blew for full-time and legged it to his car faster than I thought possible. Happy Days (I think!!)

I remember playing Sunday League in, I think, Sefton Park. An opposition player kicked the ball away after having a foul called against him. The ref, a small slight man who appeared ancient to me but was probably only 60 at the most, called the player over and told him to go and get the ball. Slightly less cocky, the player refused. “Get the ball or I’ll send you off. “ He shamefacedly retrieved the ball, apologised and the ref had no more problems. Good refereeing.

Lyndon (45),

Ah, The Netley, great days from the early sixties going in there after games at Goodison and the other “Gaff” with the counter lined up with pints of Guinness and loads of fresh cheese and ham cobs all demolished and replaced ‘til I got off around 7:00 pm.

All the arguments, banter with characters long gone, and time flew as we laughed and told our tales of the present and the past. Brilliant times and thinking now I went to Rotterdam on that famous night with the manager of the Netley, then, on the coach and ferry.

My fondest memories of playing football in Liverpool were on the pitches at Dunlop's in Speke, somewhere in Wavertree, but I think the best were those at Jericho Lane near Otterspool.

But the best was playing at Bellefield for those brief moments.

I was a member of the NTAS and had many a happy pint in the Netley pre-games. People like Ste Allinson and Becci Tallentire used to regale us with tales of the board shenanigans and players' histories.

I remember two lairy West Ham fans getting cocky and singing anti-scouse songs and no-one blinked an eye. Later, when I left, they were both sat on the kerb outside nursing very bloody faces.

I thought I remembered it being on the opposite corner to The Oak? Am I mixing up my pubs??

Dave #19, I didn't say “We did not presume bias” -- that's a line from Ladyman's column. I'll just say that in 48 years on the whistle (or flag) my only bias has been against players I viewed as dirty or dangerous. I know lots of fans and players do presume bias against their teams for other reasons, but I've never been accused of it (although I've been accused of everything else!) so I've not had to confront that issue.

I have certainly been as angry as Coote after a game, but I have never verbalized it. To anyone. It would have ended my career. How incredibly stupid that he has ended his own.

Ian #16, funny you should say that about the knives. I was actually stabbed running the line for a lower-level pro game in 1989. An elderly spectator did the deed with... yep... her umbrella. I had just flagged off her grandson's goal for offside. Cost me three stitches in my ribs and a new ref shirt. Way more than my game check.

Odd that these videos of Coote only surfaced after he's not given a penalty in favour of Salah in their game against Villa?

Mike (57),

You say now you were only biased against players you viewed as dirty or dangerous well there are plenty of dirty and dangerous players and always have been so that represents plenty of bias.

Re the lady(?) with the umbrella, I saw a player battered over the head with one at Goodison Park in a reserve game, Everton v Bolton Wanderers when the referee sent off three players, Kenny Birch and Harry Potts of Everton and Dennis Stevens of Bolton.

The player was the Bolton goalkeeper who also was wicket keeper for Lancashire — Ken Greaves. She never got to the referee; she was escorted off before she could start on him.

Quite strange that football referees are treated with far less respect than rugby refs or umpires in cricket. Maybe because the other 2 sports for many years were dominated by public school boys, and the same respect is still there now.

In Rugby, the players still call the ref sir and only the captain is allowed to approach the referee.

Just touching on the respect thing, I remember David Moyes allowing St Helens rugby team to use Everton's training ground, and Moyes said when the players left the field and the dressing room it was left spotless, not something that happens when footballers leve the field or the training ground.

Brian, I suspect that respect for referees (at least through actions), as per other codes / sports, could be achieved quickly if only clear and consistent sanctions were used as they are in other codes / sports.

Make clear to clubs and players, through their relative representatives, before the season starts what behaviour will be unacceptable. Make clear what sanctions will apply for each contravention. Apply the agreed sanction for the first and every following misdemeanour from the first game on.

But it ain't going to happen. It all provides controversy, emotion, "good" television.

Brent,

In my opinion, they should be held accountable and interviewed just as managers are.

But that's just me. Who is going to listen to me?

They are way too protected, without explaining themselves.

Danny, yes, proper selection of referees in the first instance.

I'd also apply the rule used in other codes – argue with the ref at a free kick or don't retire 10 yards immediately, or touch / interfere with the ball when a free kick has been awarded, and the free kick is moved forward 10 yards.

That just wouldn't be fair for some teams, that Brent!

Next corner Mark, going towards the McDonalds on County Road, a road described in a book written by a Stoke City hooligan as not being a walk in the park!

I'm for that, Brent.

We know who they are ,Tony.

I still can't forget that McAllister goal when it should have been a free kick to us. He moved it forward about 10 yards unopposed by the official and scored.

I don't like sounding bitter, but sometimes it is blatant.

How could anyone be so thick as to allow those comments to be
recorded?

Lot of fuss over nothing really.

Dave #59, that's hilarious. I'm grinning ear to ear at that mental image. Thanks.

Some must have it in for the poor Coote.

Rumours are that much more stuff is to be released over the weekend.

The Kev in Kirkby, next to Ruffwood school 🥹 only the strongest (maddest) survived!

Born and raised in Kirkby I grew up playing on that field many weekends. Used to wack golf balls across it on Saturdays with my cousin circa 2000…

Ronnie Goodlass's Sunday league team was quite famous locally and if you got a spot on his squad it was big.

Thanks, Tony.

But in that case, what was the name of the pub opposite The Oak, on the corner of Spellow Lane? The cat rescue place?

Mark, my grandparents lived on Langham Street.

Much changed now of course but the Blue House was at the top and I think the Netley was at the bottom... but my memory probably playing tricks again.

Sean, 70 - I went to The Doms and had to run the gauntlet of Scruffwood a few times. It was genuinely terrifying. We had to get changed in the teacher's car otherwise we would get bricked.

The pitches for junior and amateur football in Liverpool are amazing now. Not like the ones I played on … our games in Mab Lane were regularly interrupted by robbed motorbikes being chased across them by the fuzz.

I felt like a professional when we moved ‘up' to the West Derby League and got to play on Barnfield.

By the way, Barnfield will always be known as Barnfield and never, ever The Bill Wankly Playing Fields. Never.