By Reinaldo Oliveros
Nov 11, 2024, 11:40 AM EST
Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the English refereeing association (PGMOL) after the broadcast of a video in which he appears insulting the former Liverpool coach, Jürgen Klopp.
In the video, the exact date of which is unknown, Coote is heard referring to Klopp as an “asshole” and “arrogant”. This suspension marks an unprecedented chapter in the already complicated relationship between referees, coaches and the Premier League.
In the recording, Coote exposes his hostility towards the German coach, alluding to an episode that occurred during the pandemic, in a match between Liverpool and Burnley, in which Klopp supposedly accused him of lying.
“He’s an asshole, an absolute asshole. In addition to what he did to me in a match against Burnley during the pandemic, He accused me of lying. I have no interest in talking to someone so fucking arrogant. I will do everything I can not to talk to him,” Coote says at one point in the video.
These words, full of resentment, reveal a personal conflict between the referee and the coach, which has generated a strong debate in the world of English football.
It is not the first time that the relationship between Klopp and some referees has generated controversy. The German coach, known for his passionate nature, has had several confrontations with authority on the field of play.
The PGMOL, in an official statement, confirmed Coote’s suspension “effective immediately, pending a full investigation.”
This suspension comes at a time when English refereeing has been under constant scrutiny, especially for controversial decisions in several recent matches, and highlights the importance of impartiality and respect in the relationship between referees and teams.
The situation is even more complex when remembering that Coote was in charge of refereeing Liverpool’s recent 2-0 victory against Aston Villain which Birmingham fans and coaching staff expressed their discontent over an alleged non-called penalty against the “Reds.”
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