David Coote did not just land himself in big trouble – he’s caused a lot more grief for his colleagues.
The referee won’t be the only person in football who has that view of Jurgen Klopp or Liverpool. That’s football tribalism for you. Rivals of the Reds will hate on them and the figures who have helped make them a success.
Even if they’ve never met Klopp or just choose to dismiss the Merseysiders’ success. Some will argue what Coote came out with is what is said regularly in pubs up and down the land on a weekly or maybe even daily basis so what’s the issue?
The problem is he’s in a position of power, should be neutral and, unfortunately, what he has come out with on video is detrimental to not only his career but also the other officials around the country. Coote’s words have now poured petrol on a fire that has been getting bigger in recent weeks, months and years.
Every fan of every team thinks there’s certain referees out to get their club while other officials favour their rivals. Howard Webb is the chief of the PGMOL and the one who will be tasked with sorting out this fine mess.
(Image: 2020 Pool)
But he can surely remember back to when former Liverpool player Ryan Babel posted a mocked up picture on social media of the official in a Manchester United shirt. That was generated because many felt Webb favoured the then dominant force in English football.
Now every club’s fans have certain officials who irk them and conspiracy theorists who claim some referees are on certain pay rolls. Just have a look on social media when there’s even a slightly controversial call made by a referee, an assistant or a VAR.
Search the names of the officials and you’ll find wild claims about who they support and where they are supposedly getting paid from. All of that noise is only going to be turned up to a whole new level after the Coote controversy.
The social media abuse will grow and the vitriol from the stands will be even more vicious. Even if the investigation finds out that the video is genuine and Coote is knocked off the Premier League rota, the reputational damage for the PGMOL will be long lasting.
To the sane among us, we know that the mistakes made by the officials are honest and down to complacency rather than bias or any other bizarre conspiracy.
But Coote was wrong not to let whatever clashes he had with Klopp linger and they should have been just put to one side rather than have deep personal feelings towards the German that overstepped the mark by some distance.
Webb now has the unenviable task of trying to restore trust among clubs that other officials don’t hold similar feelings about other managers, players or teams. That will be a much tougher task than explaining all the cock ups on camera with Michael Owen.
(Image: PA)
There’s a belief that Liverpool should give Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold what they want to sign new contracts. But the problem is we don’t know exactly what they want. Maybe what all three are after is totally reasonable and the club should give it to them.
But there’s also a chance that it is not feasible given the stages of the careers each are at. There’s no doubt that Liverpool should do all they can to keep them given they’re so important to Arne Slot’s side.
And there’s a very good chance that they all sign new deals. But until we know more details about the reasons as to why all three are well into the final year of their contracts and the issues stopping pen being put to paper, then it is a bit silly to say just give them what they want.
ONSIDE Alejandro Garnacho making sure he found the young fan who chanted his name to give him his shirt.
OFFSIDE Those who give James McClean stick for not wearing a poppy. He’s explained his valid reasons enough times.