You can forgive Liverpool fans, and perhaps football fans at large, for feeling a little let down by some of the commentary that has followed the release of David Coote’s controversial clips.
To be completely fair to Gary Neville and Co. on The Overlap, it’s worth emphasising from the off that the latest episode has not been able to deal with the latest controversies to have since arisen around the official.
Nonetheless, in dealing with the issues on the table, there has to be some concern that we’re not entirely addressing the underlying problems.
Are we genuinely taking into consideration the integrity of referees and officials as a whole? There were few answers on that front in Howard Webb’s address to the nation on Mic’d Up.
Ian Wright raises important David Coote point
We might never have found out about Coote’s true feelings about officiating Liverpool without the release of a damning set of clips.
Ian Wright, for his part, certainly seemed to suggest it was more beneficial for fans and commentators to be aware of the referee’s innermost views.
“Instantly, he should have got up and said, ‘Delete that now’,” the former Arsenal star spoke on The Overlap*.
“But then we’re saying if he deletes that now then we don’t know how he feels about Jurgen.”
Roy Keane couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing: “Is that it? He slagged Klopp off? Do you know think other referees do it privately and have chats with their friends, obviously he’s been caught on camera, but if he thinks that of Jurgen Klopp, he should stop refereeing forever? Just avoid Liverpool matches.”
Ian Wright speaks for concerned football fans
We can’t help but feel that ex-Arsenal star is the one truly getting to the crux of the problem.
A specific mention of subconscious (and, ergo, implicit biases) and it’s potential impact on decision-making is well worth some discussion. Rather than limiting talks to how fair or unfair it would be to prevent Coote from working as an official in England ever again.
“When listening to Gary O’Neill – one popped up yesterday when he’s talking about in their subconscious, he’s saying about sometimes you feel like things might sway you,” Wright said.
“Now with him saying that and coming out and blatantly speaking like he did, fans have got every right to feel how they feel about what he said about Klopp. Every right to feel that now. Call everything into question – he’s brought refereeing into [disrepute]. Integrity. Honestly!”
Ultimately, however the PGMOL decides to adjudicate this issue, we hope there’s a genuine drive to restore fans’ faith in the officiating body.
Merely throwing the referee in question under the bus and saying “That’s it, folks!” will still leave an abundance of questions about the integrity of Coote’s remaining colleagues.
Can we trust that no other official in the English game harbours implicit biases against Liverpool or another Premier League outfit?
Rest assured: The issue is unlikely to be endemic to Arne Slot’s men.
* This latest instalment of Stick to Football was recorded on 12 November
I can think of a few refs who have an agenda against Wolves but when it comes out 1 is against St Jurgen its news
I’m glad Keane has come out supporting coote
I was beginning to believe he was not crazy after all
Thank god he’s still insane as I think if he was cured he would not be strong enough to f deal with it
Thank god there’s still a god of compassion
Keane says all kinds of laughable statements and he’s still bot letting us down 😂 What a clown.
Many pundits are missing the point.
I myself as L.f.c fan do not like Real Madrid and Manu for the Same reason
,,,,Arrogance.
Both clubs have a believe that no matter what ,,They should be Top dogs.
But and there,s always a but.
My thoughts do Not Affect the out come off football matches.
Has neville listened to the video. Content said kloppis a c Liverpool are shyte and he hates all scousers. He should never be allowed referee again
Too true.. I hope every scouter he meets gives him help. I know I would. He is a complete Coote
Explains a lot of terrible decisions made by this referee when officiating Liverpool games.
I don’t think he’s alone in refereeing, and Var in England is a joke. He should never be allowed to hold a whistle in his mouth again.
Bs. Im an L4 fan over 50 years. Like anyone who has failed systems he deserves another chance to redeem himself. He will need to show genuine remorse, be retrained and not given premier league or higher games again until he proves himself worthy.
What Coote has done has opened up a whole can of worms , since the outburst of his hatred for Liverpool and Klopp he has also been caught what appears to be taking drugs during last season’s Euros when he was on duty and if found guilty it will be the end of his career as a referee.
He is entitle to his own opinion based on his interaction with LFC, Klopp and especially Van Dyke. You got to show proof that he was bias in his discision making when he officiated LFC games. If you can not then you should shut it, most players and managers in EPL are no saints, in fact most of them are cheats and moan about everything. High time they were put in their place
Absolute b****cks, I’m guessing you’re a 13th supporter. If it were your team you’d be livid
I don’t think Coote should be able to referee again teams would be questioning his every decision, and nobody could trust him again to be impartial
Wonder what Neville would say if it was about UTD
Coote has bought referees into disrepute, and will inevitably damage relations between fans and the FA.
Apart from personally being a complete idiot, he has selfishly burdened everyone with his arrogance. I’d be bloody mad at him if a was a fellow referee.