11 Nov 2024 17:51:06
I think this Coote thing could be quite big. Could be a catalyst for some changes I think. I can see the Premier League trying to bring in the best refs around Europe at some point.
For a long time now, whenever a decision goes against a club there are always cries of "corruption" from angry fans. I have always thought, and still think, that is nonsense. The implication of calling a ref corrupt is that they, either as an individual or as part of a wider conspiracy, are taking some sort of payment/ financial gain for influencing outcomes in favour of one team or another. I'm not saying it's never happened (we know it has in some countries) but I just don't believe it's what is behind some of the unbelievable decisions we see from refs. So it always gets explained away as "incompetence" but when you look at how inexplicable some of the decisions are, that's hard to get your head around as well.
Now we have the most tangible evidence we've ever seen that a top flight ref (and if it's one, I reckon we can assume it's many) has feelings so strong about a particular team and/ or manager that they could potentially be swayed, consciously or unconsciously, to make a decision against that team or in favour of a rival team. Coote talks in the video about Klopp being a **** because Klopp had given him such a hard time in a previous match. If he's carried that ill feeling with him because of one incident or one match, and he holds the grudge so strongly that he would speak like that about Klopp and Liverpool some time later, then it really isn't much of a stretch from there to think that it could influence how he would act towards Klopp and Liverpool in future matches.
11 Nov 2024 18:05:29
It’s a Clear body of evidence, of Bias against Liverpool.
He should be removed from the Sport, if he’s not removed, then that will cause the PGMOL more problems because it points to corruption on the whole like you said.
11 Nov 2024 18:06:28
In my eyes corrupt is any bias against a team when you are supposed to be impartial. Cootes actions over the years have always shown him to be a biased ref at minimum and this confirms it. He may or may not be taking money but he is as close to a city fan reffing the league as you can get.
11 Nov 2024 18:27:42
I think its more that he criticised the club rather than klopp which is very worrying. However- Every top European league has been involved in match fixing barring the premier league. What’s more likely- the premier league is somehow above this or it is mere coincidence that all the fans are screaming corruption? I’m like a broken record but I think there are serious problems with gambling and I believe it has played a part in premier league games the last few seasons. I hope I’m wrong and it is simply insane ludicrous pathetic ineptitude from the officials and var in particular. I just don’t think I am.
11 Nov 2024 18:32:28
I think there’s a clear perception of bias, even if not that bias actually exists, and that’s enough for him to be compromised as a referee. This should be the end of his career, as if that incident in Malaysia while being drunk and partying with those prostitutes wasn’t enough.
11 Nov 2024 18:33:40
Wasnt there also refs (may have been former) on record saying both that they didn’t want to correct a decision with VAR as felt bad for his mate and another advising or saying to give decisions to the home team in an effort to placate the crowd? This is probably the most glaring but think refs have been fairly open about bias / admitting to what is basically cheating or swaying matches.
11 Nov 2024 18:35:42
I should clarify- I believe it is more clear a sign of bias that he criticised the club as opposed to just having an issue with the manager. Cannot wait for the pgmol to support him at this terrible time.
11 Nov 2024 18:46:54
If he does indeed get sacked, what's the likelihood of him popping up in Saudi earning a small fortune?
11 Nov 2024 19:22:24
I've always thought it'd be a good idea to have international refs in the league. I just find it amazing that all these refs seem to be die hard supporters of these lower league teams lol but ya never hear about them supporting any of the big clubs. like really? lol.
11 Nov 2024 19:34:05
Setting aside what he said (which should see him sacked as his impartiality and objectivity is completely shot to bits) you have to question his decision making generally for allowing that to be filmed in the first place.
I mean that is catastrophically stupid.
11 Nov 2024 19:48:58
Didn't he ref the Villa game and wave away 2 x pens?
11 Nov 2024 19:50:26
Do you know what, I’ve just seen the video for the first time and it would not surprise me if that was a deepfake video.
I just can’t fathom why a Premier League referee would allow himself to be filmed saying the things he said. It’s beyond stupid.
If he did indeed say those things and allowed his mates to film it then he absolutely deserves everything he gets which is hopefully sacked at the very least.
How could a person be that stupid? How? It’s the sheer level of stupidity that makes me think it could be fake.
11 Nov 2024 20:48:47
I haven’t seen the video
Did he use the phrase German €u¥t?
Now if Mr. Klopp was off a different colour and from a country predominantly of said colour and that same terminology was used. This has no debate. It’s a racist call and he’s out the door.
Nationality abuse has no room either in our game.
He should be wise enough within himself and retire
Can’t even walk with his head high with an apology.
Absolutely shambolic. FA, PGMOL and every other governing body should already be writing his sacking letter.
A disgrace to human society to discriminate against any other person of, colour culture or nationality
We all breath and bleed the same.
11 Nov 2024 21:02:32
Couldn’t have worded it better Gazza, especially your last sentence. In this world of division, let at least football bring us a bit closer.
11 Nov 2024 21:17:02
Real or not real - I have that little faith in the premier league that he will get a slap on the wrist likely the same as Man City will get for breaking the rules - I think for his own safety with a slapped wrist they probably won’t send the man to Anfield any time soon - wow I know referees get stick but imagine the noise when this guy walks out onto Anfield the next time! Hopefully that game is aired on tv!
I always think of Mean Machine the films when they take action against the referee in the games! If only Riise was still here on them free kicks ?.
11 Nov 2024 21:43:55
If it’s not real Sofa fan then he shouldn’t get punished. As he’s done nothing wrong.
11 Nov 2024 21:58:09
BP, no way it’s fake and pretty sure one of the papers confirmed he’d admitted it was real.
Why you’d video that is ridiculous but I’d also question those close to him who have shared it with the world. From the video he looks under the influence so his decision making will be off but the fact they knew what it’d do to him and didn’t delete it is mind boggling.
In my opinion, there is no going back for him. He can’t ref our games, he’d be under the spotlight and he can’t ref games against our rivals for the same reason.
People can not like someone, but when your are meant to have a position of neutrality you can’t be making statements like that on camera.
11 Nov 2024 22:05:25
Very well said Gazza.
11 Nov 2024 23:22:52
Yes, he deserves what’s coming, but really the issue is so deep rooted as to ref abuse is it really a wonder they react? Do we think we’re the only club where refs don’t have a jaundiced view? Other sports such as either code of rugby, cricket, etc etc have strong communication, clear governance as to how rules and behaviours are expected, and whilst not perfect are a damn site further down the track culturally than football.
It’s time the sport looked inwardly and recognise why these behaviours exist, instead of finger pointing to everyone else, this time referees. I suspect it’ll be a cold day in hell before influential figures scratch deeper than the surface however.
11 Nov 2024 23:36:16
He looked drunk to me. definitely not saying that it excuses him, just that it might explain why he let himself be filmed…. Or I could be way off. Either way, if it is a true video (not fake) then he shouldn’t ever ref again in England.
12 Nov 2024 00:23:07
Look, on a basic human level I actually have some sympathy for the guy. If that video is indeed real then he’s made a huge error of judgement and his so called mates have sold him down the river.
We all have frustrations about our job and colleagues/ associates/ businesses we don’t like and we have all mouthed off about them in frustration from time to time (although granted he didn’t have to bring nationality into it like he’s better than a German because he’s British) .
The hatred that is going to get directed towards him for this will be unbearable and he’ll have to keep his head down for quite a while which I do find abhorrent. Yes he’s been extremely stupid but he shouldn’t have to fear for his safety.
12 Nov 2024 00:34:53
Apparently Coote has admitted the video is genuine. Time to sit back and grab the popcorn.
12 Nov 2024 02:35:38
It’s always felt like he has a vendetta against us, so this is honestly not surprising. I wonder how many other refs have personal issues with certain clubs/ personnel?
12 Nov 2024 03:51:25
Coote has dug his own grave, but we must be very careful of a witch hunt against all refs which I have seen much of today.
12 Nov 2024 04:40:55
My word BP, reading your posts it's almost as if you're on his side. Listen mate there's no excusing the remarks he made, he said them plain and simple, he deserves everything coming his way. He's a racist twa* who needs to have the book thrown at him.
I witness racism multiple times daily and it doesn't sit right with me at all. What he said is a form of racism, whichever way you want to look at it. Have sympathy for somebody like that? you need to have a word with yourself.
What I do believe is it's an in the moment whilst intoxicated kind of thing, people can always say things they don't mean in the moment especially when they are under the influence of drugs/ alcohol or simply just being angry but it doesn't make it right, especially when it's this level or at any level for that matter. Also, he meant what he was saying - you can see it quite clearly.
All I can speak for is myself here (we're all different) and I've never touched a drug in my life but I have been drunk a million times - never once have I ever been racist whilst under the influence. Why? because in the moment you know exactly what you are saying - the next day you may not remember it but in the moment you know what you are saying. I most certainly have done and I've said some pretty cringe worthy sh*t in the past, we all have.
Moral of the story is it's about been in control, he's clearly out of control, he deserves nothing more than the boot, get him out of the whole lot of it. He deserves nothing, least of all sympathy.
{Ed025's Note - im with you Salah mate..
12 Nov 2024 07:06:16
Coote is evil guy that has damned our title race so many times!
12 Nov 2024 07:11:38
". people can always say things they don't mean in the moment especially when they are under the influence of drugs/ alcohol. "
I'll take this a step further and say that drugs/ alcohol actually loosens lips and encourages people to say what they REALLY think.
If the video is real we need to call the racism out, because if it flies under the radar due to being about a white guy (Klopp) then what hope do we have of dealing with more insidious forms of racial hatred?
12 Nov 2024 07:18:13
BP. U only have to look at his decisions in games that concern us to see his anti liverpool feelings aren't confined to a room when he has had a few of whatever he does.
Stone cold sober he's made some outrageous decisions that have robbed us. He knows what he's at and likes the power of being able to do it.
12 Nov 2024 07:41:28
Really well put Salah, I agree completely.
12 Nov 2024 08:06:58
The thing for me BP, is that he must know that by saying things like that, he is putting his job at risk. We all say and do things every day, that you wouldn’t want certain people to find out about. Whether that is complaining about your boss, or telling a joke to a best pal, that’s probably not PC enough for general consumption. Every time we do it, it comes with certain risks…. and he got caught out…. and hopefully gets sacked…because in his line of work, you can’t say stuff like that.
12 Nov 2024 08:11:02
Seems to be a clear and obvious error from Coote.
12 Nov 2024 08:59:22
In my opinion, I don't have as much a problem with him ranting about Liverpool or Klopp. We all have frustrations with our work and we have definitely called our bosses names that are best not repeated in public.
The main issue now is whether he has let these sentiments affect his judgements or if he was able to remain professional and put aside his personal views when he is in-charge of our games. And the evidence does seem to point to the former, since there have been numerous questionable calls that went against us, the most recent example was the waving of no foul when Salah was wrestled to the ground in the AV game.
The next question we have to ask now is, how many other referees have let their own personal judgements and views affect games that they are presiding over? If the PGMOL were previously aware that Coote dislikes Liverpool and were still assigning him Liverpool games with this in mind, it would not be a stretch to imagine that they are doing the same to other teams as well. This is indicative of corruption to me since there are suspicions that they may have tried to influence results with their assigning of referees to certain games.
12 Nov 2024 09:05:04
It looks like his problem is/ was with Klopp and/ or Germans rather than Liverpool.
Did he really need to say that Klopp is German? ?
We feel aggrieved, and rightly so, but I'm sure there are other refs that will have issues with other managers.
It was a huge balls up by Coote, again, and my biggest takeaway from it was about not ruining the man's career over it.
What happened there, then?
{Ed077's Note - Isn't Coote a Man Utd supporter ?
12 Nov 2024 11:32:13
Salah, I don't think Beckers is excusing his behaviour per se, but more pointing out that the guy is likely going to get crucified due to his job being a ref and has been completely sold out by his own mates potentially. But I agree, does not excuse what he said regardless of him being drunk or whatever. However, without nitpicking, is this classed as racism or is this xenophobia, two different things but both pretty abhorrent.
12 Nov 2024 12:49:26
He supports Notts County, apparently, 77.
Hmmm.
{Ed077's Note - I saw a photo of what appeared to be one of his social media page which had Old Trafford as a Cover Photo. Now in this day and age, it's hard to be fully certain if it was real or edited/fake.}
12 Nov 2024 13:15:38
Salah I was not saying I had sympathy for what he said, more that I have some sympathy for him as a human being knowing what is about to come his way.
He’s been ridiculously stupid and should 100% be punished for what he said, the context it was said in and the racist nature of it. However, that does not mean he should be chased out of town with pitchforks, afraid to leave his house in fear for his safety.
That’s just not on for me. He was with his mates and giving it the Billy Big Spuds. He shouldn’t be persecuted for that.
He should lose his job and be forced to face up to the language he used whether that’s a police matter or a public apology. The latter would suffice for me. His life is already ruined we don’t need to kick him when he’s down.
As for people highlighting poor decisions he’s made that have gone against us, I could pick out every referee in the league and give you a poor decision he’s made against us. I think it’s just confirmation bias. He’s made those comments so we all look for incidents that confirm his hatred of Liverpool but in actual fact there aren’t that many and to be honest I think if you looked you’d find him giving poor decisions against most teams. Just because he’s a crap ref doesn’t mean he’s got an agenda.
I would say that Simon Hooper has been much worse to us than David Coote ever has. How about Michael Oliver in the City game last season too? Are we saying this is widespread hatred of Klopp and Liverpool now?
At the end of the day Coote has to be finished as a top level referee in this country after what he said. You simply can’t say that in the public domain and then claim to be acting with impartiality, even if you actually are. I just don’t think we should be attacking the guy and making his life more miserable than he’s made it himself.
I’m not really defending him as a referee, more as a person and I think you Salah in particular, given that you are a vocal advocate for mental health would understand that. I don’t know, maybe I’m going soft in my old age.
12 Nov 2024 13:23:40
Mike Dean that was Mighty, Cucarella got his hair trailed back befor Spurs scored, Dean on VAR but his mate had a hard game and Dean didn't want to make it harder - few things in that game he ignored for that reason, yet he is now on TV giving opinions on officiating decisions, kinda hard to take him seriously after that admission for me.
12 Nov 2024 14:19:40
I think after reading that, we're very much on the same page BP, apologies mate I think I took your post in a way it wasn't intended. I agree 100% that he shouldn't be concerned about his safety. He's done wrong, he will know it and will no doubt still be an idiot as his whole persona shows this but if he loses his job that's enough for me. That's as far as it should go.
12 Nov 2024 14:07:12
He used to be, Ed077 but he got sick of them and switched to Notts County.
Speaking of Man Utd, I wonder what some refs thought of SAF. I bet he had a right go at some of them. Maybe even intimidated some into favourable decisions for United?
{Ed077's Note - Many are probably glad they didn't live in this day and age of Smartphones where everything gets recorded and put out