Ex-PGMOL chief calls for extreme measure with image of refereeing in tatters after David Coote storm
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A former PGMOL chief has backed a controversial policy that could repair the ‘tarnished’ reputation of referees.
The bold call comes amid the release of two controversial videos featuring Premier League referee David Coote.
Footage of Coote laying into former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was posted on Monday, in which the official branded the German ‘f***ing arrogant’ and a ‘German c***’.
Coote was suspended effective immediately by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited group [PGMOL], who also launched an investigation into the matter along with the Football Association [FA].
The official was also removed by UEFA from their match list ahead of this week’s Nations League fixtures, with the European governing body since launching an ethics and disciplinary investigation into his conduct.
Another clip, obtained by The Sun, emerged on Wednesday and shows Coote with a rolled up American bank note appearing to snort a white powder.
The Sun report the video was taken on July 6, the day after Spain played Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter finals, a game where Coote was a support VAR official.
Speaking exclusively on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett conceded Coote is a ‘bad apple’, but does not believe it is fair to taint all referees with the same brush.
Hackett, who was in charge of the PGMOL from 2004 to 2010, also revealed he brought forward two major policies during his stint.
The first was to ban the PGMOL’s match officials from betting on football games across the globe, a policy that was ‘accepted immediately.’
"I then got into the realms of WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] and drug testing,” Hackett said.
” I had no suspicions at that particular time and I'm not being clever now. But, moving forward, they are going to have to take this into account.”
Hackett added: "The actions of David Coote are quite unbelievable and they have tarnished the image of refereeing. This affects referees at all levels of the game. It puts into doubt their integrity.
"Rarely do you come across a referee that is as stupid as David Coote. I can't think of another case. Other than, obviously, we had Bobby Madley.
"The PGMOL runs a very tight regime looking after the care of match officials and checking the integrity of how they operate."
White pressed Hackett as to whether he still believed referees should be drug tested.
Although Hackett conceded his stance might be ‘extreme’, it would provide the transparency and clarity many football fans seek.
"I think I would bring it in purely as a defence mechanism,” Hackett said.
“It might seem like an extreme. Just put a barrier up.
"I'm shocked by the fact there's a video we've all seen. I'm absolutely gobsmacked this could happen with a professional sportsperson. That's what referees are.”
Coote has been a Premier League official since 2018 and refereed Liverpool’s most recent Premier League fixture last Saturday as they beat Aston Villa 2-0.
What Coote said about Liverpool and Klopp
Transcript from first video released...
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Coote: “Erm, Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Coote: “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Coote: “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown. Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I've got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Coote: “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Coote: “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We're two metres apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Coote: “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp's a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
