Premier League referee, David Coote, is expected to resign from his high-paying refereeing job amidst a storm of controversy. This follows the leak of a video on social media where he was seen using derogatory language against ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
The leaked video showed Coote referring to Klopp as a "German c***". Despite not remembering the incident, he has since accepted responsibility for his actions in the video. This incident has placed him at the center of investigations by both PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and FA (Football Association).
Coote's comments could potentially lead to an "aggravated breach" charge due to their reference to Klopp's nationality. As a result, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) has removed him from their match list for the international break.
The financial impact
According to reports by The Sun, it is anticipated that Coote will choose resignation over dismissal. This decision would cost him approximately £100,000 per year in lost income. An anonymous source quoted by The Sun stated: “He’s looking at more than a million quid down the drain there when you add it all up.”
PGMOL boss Howard Webb broke his silence earlier this week regarding this issue but did not provide any specific comments.
PGMOL boss, Howard Webb, said:
“We became aware of a video on social media that we are taking very seriously. We have instigated a full investigation. David Coote has been suspended pending the outcome. There’s not much more I can say at this stage.”
In addition, several former officials have voiced their opinions following this controversy. Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher defended referees like Coote stating that despite personal feelings they may harbor towards teams or individuals within them; they do not exhibit bias during matches.
Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher, said:
"I refereed for 46 years, and most of my decisions are based on instinct; you have a knowledge of the laws of the game, the experience that you built up over the years. You see an incident and act instinctively, it's like driving a car, you see a red light, you don't think ‘change gear, brake, stop’. You just do it. I don't think any referee has any chance to think like that [biased against certain clubs], what I would say is that at the top level, the scrutiny is so intense - it's unbelievable.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder about maintaining professionalism in sports regardless of personal sentiments or biases. It also highlights how such incidents can have severe financial implications for those involved.
