Gary Neville’s Verdict on David Coote: “Not Anti-Liverpool”

Gary Neville has entered the fray surrounding referee David Coote, whose leaked video has sparked a storm in the footballing world. Liverpool fans, though, won’t be surprised by the former Manchester United defender’s measured response.

The David Coote Controversy

The leaked video, in which Coote allegedly referred to Jurgen Klopp using expletives and Liverpool in less-than-flattering terms, has led to his suspension and a formal investigation by PGMOL. Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb confirmed the organisation is treating the matter “very seriously,” with further comment withheld until the inquiry concludes.

As the football community weighs in, Neville’s initial silence stood out. However, speaking on The Overlap US, he broke his silence, delivering a nuanced perspective.

Neville Defends the Bigger Picture

Neville acknowledged the severity of Coote’s language but dismissed suggestions that the comments reflect anti-Liverpool bias in his officiating. “If we look at the words that David Coote has said, obviously it’s going to bring him great disappointment and I think will bring great disappointment to the refereeing community,” Neville said.

He added: “He’s called Jurgen Klopp the c-word, which is obviously a very aggressive word, but I didn’t see anything within his words that told me he had influenced decisions in the wrong way or [was] looking to do Liverpool over.”

The former England international criticised the referee’s conduct as “sloppy,” suggesting it’s an error Coote will regret “not just today but for the rest of his life.”

The Fallout and the Future

The implications for Coote’s career were also addressed. Neville highlighted the difficulty Coote would face returning to officiate Liverpool matches, describing his position as “a mess” but arguing against cancelling his career entirely. “The minute you cancel him as a Premier League referee, you’re effectively cancelling him from the game,” Neville explained.

Neville also shifted attention to another individual in the video, whose remark about “hating Scousers” he deemed far more concerning. “That demonstrates a hatred towards a group of people,” Neville remarked. “But David Coote never said those words himself. He’s been stitched up.”

No Evidence of Anti-Liverpool Bias

While Neville stopped short of excusing Coote’s behaviour, he firmly denied the existence of any anti-Liverpool agenda in his officiating. “I don’t believe David Coote is anti-Liverpool in games,” he said. “I don’t believe he gives bad decisions because he wants to.”

Reflecting on his own career, Neville suggested that tensions between players, managers, and referees are not uncommon but rarely rooted in bias. “I could give you the names of three referees that I didn’t like, that I thought were against us during my career. But I don’t believe they for one minute were frauds or corrupt.”

A Test for Accountability

The fallout from this incident raises questions about professionalism and accountability among referees. Coote’s ability to rebuild his career hinges not just on the findings of the investigation but also on whether trust can be restored. For now, the focus remains on ensuring referees maintain the impartiality essential to the integrity of the game.