Former top grade referee Des Roache believes David Coote’s career is over after his X-rated rant about Jurgen Klopp was caught on camera.
Coote has came under fire after a video surfaced on social media of the official labelling former Liverpool manager Klopp as a “German ****” during lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the video had leaked, Coote had already made himself an unpopular figure with fans at Anfield with several high-profile calls as a referee and on VAR in recent seasons, and just last weekend was heavily criticised after waving away what appeared to be a clear foul on Mohamed Salah in their 2-0 win against Aston Villa.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has confirmed that Coote has now been suspended, pending the results of a full investigation. And former SFA whistler Roache admits he has no sympathy with his English counterpart. Appearing on Record Sport’s Hotline Live on Wednesday night, he said: “Unfortunately I cannot see any way back for him. What he has done there is the most gross misconduct of stupidity.
“Everybody is allowed a personal opinion, but a personal opinion should remain just that. I have got no doubts that I have gone into a dressing room after a game and said ‘player X has done my head in’ or saying to myself ‘I wish I hadn’t done that. But why is he allowing himself to be filmed? That’s the bit I don’t get.
“There may be other reasons why he wasn’t in control of his faculties but we don’t know that for certain. But if you are allowing someone to record you, that is going to get out. Whoever has leaked it has obviously got a very serious grind with him (Coote). I don’t understand how he can get away with it and we may have potentially seen the end of him. That’s the sad state of affairs unfortunately.”
Roach also states that in all his time as an official in Scotland, has never came across the kind of situation that Coote has found himself in. “I can wholeheartedly say that I have never seen our refereeing colleagues conduct themselves in that manner and speak so disparagingly about someone else within football.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard. I don’t mind people criticising my ability, that is fine and is open for interpretation. But by doing that you can question my credibility and as soon as you lose credibility within football and the general public who are paying to watch it, it is a very hard place to come back from.”