It is a scandal that could undermine the fairness of the Premier League itself. PL umpire David Coote was caught cursing Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, and is facing a crisis of dismissal.
The British 'Guardian' said on the 12th (Korea Standard Time), "Coot became a fool himself, but what's worse is that he damaged the entire referee team. His criticism against Klopp and Liverpool was not only completely foolish, but it could also cause lasting damage to the game," adding, "Coot is in serious danger that he can never be a referee again."
Coote has been a referee in the PL since 2018, and worked for eight years in the English Championship (minor league). He also had experience in A-match games and was a referee in the Carabao Cup final two seasons ago. He was one of the judges selected in England as well.
However, Coutt has been embroiled in various controversies over recent years, with suspicion that he is the referee and VAR referee in charge of the match, making a judgment in Liverpool's disadvantage. Coutt was also suspected of supporting rival teams that are competing for the title.
Especially when he was a VAR referee, he drew a lot of complaints from Liverpool. When Liverpool lost a point to Marcus Rashford in 2019, Divock Origi appeared to have been fouled, but Coot in the VAR room did not intervene. He only watched when Jordan Pickford ruptured Virgil van Dijk's cruciate ligament. Last season, he also caused Klopp's anger by passing over Martin Odegaard's handball foul at Anfield.
In the meantime, a shocking video was released. A video clip was circulated online in which a person suspected to be Coot criticized Liverpool and Coach Klopp. In the video clip, which appears to be a COVID-19 pandemic, Coots said, "What do you think of the Liverpool game earlier? Liverpool was X(sh**). Klopp is an absolute XX(cu**)."
He also added, "[Klopp] accused me of lying in addition to slapping me on the right cheek when I was refereeing Burnley in lockdown. Then he slapped me on the right cheek. I'm not interested in talking to an arrogant person. So I try my best not to talk to him. James Milner is fine."
Coote even cracked down on whether the video clip would spread or not. "I can see you wearing a 'mask'. But oh my god. Germany XX. (f***)" he criticized the German coach, saying, "To be clear, the last video should not go anywhere.
However, the video clip eventually appeared online, sparking controversy. The PGMOL immediately suspended Coote until the full investigation was completed and said it would not comment further until the process is completed. Not only PGMOL but also the English Football Association launched an investigation.
As it was unbelievable, some people said it was a deep fake using AI. According to The Sun, however, Coot admitted to other people that he was the one in the video. He said he couldn't remember everything but didn't deny the accuracy of his remarks. He admitted it was not a fake.
The Guardian was shocked. The media pointed out, "If the Internet rumors that it was made with AI are not true, Coot's findings may be simple. He has reduced his reputation for sports. He is also in serious danger that he may never be able to serve as a referee again. Frankly, this does not seem unfair. Coot has made himself a colossal idiot in a way that is difficult to understand."
"There is a bigger problem. Coote disappointed himself and let the game down, but he added fuel to the burning conspiracy theory," the media said. "We live in a time of lack of trust and more and more people doubt other people's motives. The problem will get much worse."
If it is true that Coote discriminated against Liverpool based on his personal bad feelings, the basic fairness of football is shaken. In the future, even if there is a little controversial judgment, distrust will inevitably arise. 안전놀이터
Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorset also said, "In terms of fairness, the referee position carries tremendous responsibility. Therefore, it is a very serious argument to argue that Coot or other referees have prejudice against a specific club or have bad feelings toward the coach. This is a huge story that can cause great damage not only to Coot but also to PGMOL," adding, "We were worried about the aftermath.