A few years ago I attended a charity event at a golf club in Yorkshire.
One of the guest speakers at the evening dinner was a high-profile referee. He shall remain nameless, for obvious reasons. But it’s safe to say he felt and acted like the star attraction, not least when he took to his feet take part in a Q&A from the floor.
One of the first questions from an audience he appeared to have eating out of the palm of his hand was, “What do you really think of José Mourinho?” The answer was immediate, brutal and quite shocking.
“I think he’s a c***t,” came the crude response. The room erupted in laughter. In fact, the only person inside those four walls who appeared shocked by the answer was yours truly. Even the bloke who delivered the words didn’t seem to care.
This was a referee who officiated in major tournaments, the Champions League, Premier League and even domestic cup finals. He had reached the pinnacle of his profession. But somehow, here he was putting his entire career at risk with a vile remark about Mourinho.
(Image: Getty Images)
In front of a load of middle aged, middle class men who couldn’t appreciate the significance, and wouldn’t have cared less even if they had done. At the time, the subject was still taking charge of games in the Premier League. And Mourinho was still managing in England.
Which begged the obvious question. How could he referee Manchester United games with impartiality, if he hated their manager so much?
There was a certain arrogance about the man in question that night. He lapped up the attention – and appeared to let it massage an ego his role in the sport of football didn’t justify.
Essentially, he acted like a prize prat. And got away with it. Fast forward to 2024 and it feels like nothing has changed The one difference this time round is that, unlike the person above, the actions of current referee and so-called VAR specialists David Coote will cost him his career.
The downfall of Coote has been spectacular, and he really must have blancmange where his brains should be. It’s quite clear now that Coote needs professional help, because his life looks to be in ruins.
But like the offender I once experienced had been at the time, Coote has been so consumed by his own self-importance it gave him a God complex. These are people highly trained in how to maintain their integrity on the field.
But it’s just as important for them to do the same thing off the field, too. Otherwise they stand accused of being biased. Or even cheats.
Referees are an important part of football. Games couldn’t take place without them. But the biggest mistake an official operating at the highest level can ever make is believing they’re some sort of celebrity.
That they deserve to be held in the same regard as players or managers. They don’t. Not even close. Referees should go to work. Try to do their job correctly, go back home and choose carefully the company they keep. Quite simple really.
There’s no disputing the fact Gary Lineker is a talented broadcaster.
And judging by the deal he’s struck in leaving the BBC Match of the Day programme, he’s also a talented businessmen. But perhaps the greatest gift the former England striker turned TV presenter is blessed with, is his ability to make sure people have an opinion on him.
He’s done this by spending years having his own opinion on pretty much everything. And heaven help anyone who questions if those opinions he spews onto social media are actually his own, or written by someone else.
But what Lineker ultimately ran the risk of, was finally upsetting someone at the BBC enough for his endless lectures from the moral high ground to provide enough ammunition for him to be shot down.
It’s not all bad news for Lineker, though. If he needs a new full time job, perhaps he should apply to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Lineker is so good at preaching, he appears to be the perfect fit.
GOOD WEEK
Harry Kane – Called out his England team-mates for letting their country down. Fair play.
Lockie Ferguson – The Kiwi star took a sensational hat-trick to help New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in the second T20 clash in Dambulla.
Bernhard Langer – The evergreen golfer shot lower than his age to win the Charles Schwab Championship – and extend his record of winning a PGA Tour Champions’ title every year since 2006.
BAD WEEK
Diego Forlan – Finding tennis more difficult than football, after losing on his professional debut in just 47 minutes in a doubles event.
Faruk Koca – The former Turkish football chief has been sentenced to almost four years in prison for attacking a referee last season.
Thomas Tuchel – New England boss didn’t bother to show up for the clash in Greece. Not good enough, mate.