1 week Ago By [email protected] (Nathan Ridley)
The future of Premier League referee David Coote has divided opinion among football icons Gary Neville , Roy Keane , Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright . Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL on Monday after footage emerged on social media calling ex- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a 'German c***' as part of a rant. In one-minute 15-second video, which was recorded several years ago and Coote has since acknowledged is genuine , the top-flight official also described one of Liverpool's performances as 's***' .
Nottinghamshire-born Coote was subsequently accused of bias and unprofessionalism, plunging his career into jeopardy. Tuesday saw the recording of the latest episode of the acclaimed Overlap podcast, as Neville, Carragher, Keane, Wright and Lionesses legend Jill Scott discussed Coote's future, with the 42-year-old having also been suspended by European body UEFA . On Wednesday, another video of Coote appearing to snort a white powder though his nose during this summer's European Championship in Germany was published by the Sun .
The new footage prompted The Overlap to release the following disclaimer: "Please note this episode was record on Tuesday, 12th November 2024, Events and developments after this date may not be reflected in the discussion." In the description section on YouTube , another line read: "The panel address the news surrounding referee David Coote and the implications it could have on the game as it was understood at the time of recording." After Neville raised the topic of Coote's rant about Klopp and Liverpool, Carragher began Tuesday's discussion by saying: "Listen, he's had a nightmare and I don't see how he can referee in England again.
" Former Arsenal striker Wright interjected: "We're saying he should've deleted it, but if he had, we wouldn't have known how he felt about Jurgen." Keane then asked: "So what did he say? He's slagged Klopp off? Do you not think other referees do it privately and think it? They must have chats with their friends, obviously he's just been caught on camera. But if he thinks that of Jurgen Klopp, does that mean he should stop refereeing forever?" Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher then raised the question of how could Coote referee games relating to Liverpool again, to which former Manchester United captain Keane proposed that he could avoid their matches.
"I know but then say he's refereeing and Arsenal or Man United and they're competing [with Liverpool]," Carragher argued. Neville then gave his verdict, telling Carragher: "You said that under your breath at the end of your answer, 'I don't see how he can referee in this country again', and to be honest with you, I think that will probably be the likely outcome knowing the way in which we're obviously going. But if you call Klopp a 'c***' or Erik ten Hag a 'c***'.
.." Keane, though, argued: "It's a big leap.
It's a big leap for a guy to make a big mistake like that, whatever, to say 'never referee again'. "That's my point, right?" Neville replied. "I agree with you.
.. So to get it from a point whereby you've called a manager, what you called him, and then meaning that you're essentially cancelled and can never referee again in this country, I'm struggling with that a little bit.
I think maybe a suspension of some kind, a punishment, but then I think you should be able to come back." Carragher then gave his personal opinion by saying: "I'm with you. He's done something stupid, you can imagine what the fella's going through right now.
I don't want that, you know, talk about cancel culture, but my point being is how could he...
So he could never referee a Liverpool game? But my point being is it's not just that he can't referee Liverpool. How does he referee Everton , their rivals?" Neville later said: "My position, quite clearly, is I think he probably should get a suspension of some kind. I think Liverpool matches will be a no-no for him but I'd like to think he could come back and referee in the Premier League again.
I don't think someone being completely cancelled forever from doing the job for calling someone a, what he did, I can't think that's worthy. "It's not a sackable offensive respect of him never working again. So for me, if they do sack him, they're effectively taking him off the employment list of everybody moving forward.
And that to me, I don't think is right." Scott also gave her verdict, saying: "I agree with you." Carragher replied: "I just think because of what he said about Liverpool, I think it makes it difficult.
I don't want to see anyone cancelled...
If you can referee in the Championship or he went abroad...
my point being is if you are Howard Webb , head of referees, the eyes and the attention on him every game if he made a decision that favoured Liverpool...
I think it's very tough for him to referee around - he couldn't referee Liverpool games - teams who were involved with them. There'd be that much attention." Keane disagreed, however, claiming: "I think that is a bit extreme that Jamie.
We had Howard Webb on here a few months ago, where they obviously look at referees who can't manage teams they've supported or from certain areas. So, obviously, they'd have to look at his. "He'd have to obviously take some sort of punishment, hold his hand up and certainly have a break from the game.
But this idea we could say to a referee who was trained for donkey's years, he's made a daft mistake...
But then to say you can't [referee again]." But Wright was on the same page as Carragher. "I'm with Jamie on it," he stated.
"I'm not saying he should leave. I'm not saying he shouldn't referee again. I'm just trying to say his kind of mistake that he has made, and you go back to the people who have snitched on him, even though fourth officials – they're all snitches anyway.
"But the fact is that whoever has snitched on him has completely finished him in the Premier League simply because of all the variables that can happen." Neville followed up by declaring: "Personally, I think there is a way back for him in the Premier League." Keane added: "There has to be.
" Their debate then continued on the wider implications of Coote's behaviour for the refereeing community. It was only after their discussion that the video of Coote appearing to snort the white powder became public knowledge. The PGMOL, the organisation for the Premier League's match officials, said that they were taking the allegations 'very seriously' and also noted: "David's welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.
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