Gary Neville fears for ‘stitched-up’ David Coote over Klopp, Liverpool comments but one thing MUST happen

Gary Neville does not think David Coote should be sacked after an alleged video of him making X-rated comments about Liverpool and their legendary former boss manager Jurgen Klopp went viral.

Coote is currently suspended after the video in question, believed to have been recorded a number of years ago, started to spread across social media on Monday.

That led to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and Football Association (FA) to open their own investigations into the video, in which Coote was filmed alongside a friend – subsequently identified as former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt – who made disparaging comments about Scousers.

And while Neville admits to being shocked by the content of the video, he insists that Coote’s words do not suggest that he has ever been biased against Liverpool when officiating and that he should not lose his job over it as a result.

“It will bring great disappointment to David and the refereeing community,” Neville told The Overlap US. “He has 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 a wrong way, or that he was trying to do Liverpool over.

“I hope they can get through it. If there had been any suggestion that he was making decisions against Liverpool or another club, I would say he has to go. He has called a manager a word because he has a bad relationship with him and they have had an argument.

“I actually think the worst words in the video were said by the guy sat next to him – ‘I hate Scousers’. Because that demonstrates a hatred to a group of people, which includes Liverpool and Everton. David Coote never said those words himself. He has been stitched up and it is a mess. It looks like he got drunk and let his mate film him, which is stupid. We have all done silly things when we have had too many drinks.”

“In employment law, if you call someone a name, it is a warning. I don’t feel it is a sacking or dismissal. Taking him off Liverpool games and giving him a final warning is what I think should happen, not to lose his entire career. I don’t feel it has crossed that line.”

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Coote faces being shunned from the game

Neville fears Coote, who was also allegedly filmed snorting a white powder in a hotel room while he was officiating at last summer’s Euros, will be kicked out of the game forever if he is sacked over his comments.

The former Manchester United defender added: “It was very sloppy. I am sure it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. But from a point of view of cancelling him, I am not sure.

“The minute you cancel him as a Premier League referee, you are effectively cancelling him from the game. I am not sure any organisation would look at him and offer him the chance to join.

“It could become impossible for him to go into Premier League grounds or referee Liverpool again.

“We know that certain referees don’t take charge of matches at Old Trafford or Anfield or at other grounds because of their allegiance.

“For David Coote to be removed from Liverpool games would be a good step.”

Latest Liverpool news: Real bring forward Alexander-Arnold plans / Wolves chasing Reds midfielder

Real Madrid have reportedly held internal meetings to bring forward their plans to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold to January – and a report from Spain claims a swap offer will be green-lit by Liverpool, though they may still have a battle to talk both players into the move.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, who is also being tracked by the likes of AC Milan, Celtic and Fulham.

Reports have tipped Wolves to ‘seal a deal’ for Endo as they are keeping close tabs on his situation before the transfer window re-opens in January. Wolves have ‘registered their interest’ in the 31-year-old, having identified him as a great potential addition to their midfield ranks.

It is a busy race for Endo’s signature, with Milan, Celtic, Fulham and Ipswich Town all interested in landing him, too.