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Coote's mindless rant undermines trust in referees - he can have no complaints over the consequences
The Guardian
|November 12, 2024
There is lots I do not want to know about the video featuring the Premier League referee David Coote.
I do not want to know why it looks like he's at a bleary-eyed after-party at some random guy's house during Covid. I do not want to know who's filming using the phone, and why, as Coote reveals his apparent loathing of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp in language that would make a fishmonger blush. What I do want to know is what persuaded him that opening his mouth at all was a good idea.
Coote has been suspended from his position by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) pending the outcome of an investigation into what took place. The referee's organisation was not going to comment yesterday about how long this process might take, but unless internet rumours of the whole thing being AI generated come true then it would appear the outcome is straightforward. The 42-year-old has brought the sport into disrepute and is surely at serious risk of never being allowed to referee again.
This story is from the November 12, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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