MARK HALSEY fears David Coote could lose his job over his alleged comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League referee has been suspended pending an investigation.
Coote, 42, accepted he was filmed calling Liverpool a “s*** club” and extraordinarily dropped the C-bomb to describe ex-Reds boss Klopp.
Former Prem ref Halsey, who spoke to SunSport before Coote admitted it was him in the video, is concerned it could lead to Coote losing his career.
Halsey told SunSport: “If it is authentic then he’s got questions to answer, hasn’t he? But when I saw that, I have to say to myself, is that really David Coote? Has he really said that? To be fair, I was shocked when that video circulated on social media.
“We have to wonder whether it is authentic or not. And we’ll have to obviously let the process take its course and judge then.
“Can he come back and referee from this? I have my doubts.
“I have to say I have my doubts. I’m hoping that it’s not authentic. So as I say, we just have to wait for the process to take its course.
“And I’m shocked that whoever’s posted this video needs sorting big time, because if that was done privately between two of them, then something’s not right, is it? Something’s not right at all.
“I’m hoping it’s not authentic for David’s sake. If it is, then he will need all the support from the PGMOL going forward regarding this matter.”
Shocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly 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.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly 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.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
Coote refereed Liverpool’s most recent match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Halsey called for him to be given a second chance, with the Prem to decide Coote’s long-term future.
He continued: “I hope it’s not [authentic] because you don’t want to see anybody lose their career. Remember, it’s his full-time job. He’s got a family, he’s got a house, he’s got a mortgage.
“It leaves him in a precarious position, doesn’t it? Because people will be saying, how can they trust him to go out and referee in the Premier League?
“Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody deserves a second chance.”
