All five of David Coote’s VAR decisions involving Liverpool have re-emerged after a video went viral online of the referee appearing to say disparaging comments about the club.
A video that recently went viral on social media allegedly shows Premier League referee David Coote making controversial remarks about Liverpool and their former manager, Jürgen Klopp. In response to the video, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has launched an investigation and suspended Coote “with immediate effect.”
Following the video’s release, five contentious VAR decisions involving Coote and Liverpool have resurfaced. Although Coote has officiated only three Premier League matches involving Liverpool, he has served as the VAR official in 13 of their games, during which five key decisions were overturned:
1. **Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool, October 2019**
Coote’s first VAR involvement in a Liverpool match occurred in their clash with Manchester United. Liverpool fans had hoped for a review after Divock Origi was fouled before Marcus Rashford’s opening goal, but instead, Coote used VAR to disallow Sadio Mane’s equalizer for a handball by Mane.
2. **Everton 2-2 Liverpool, October 2020**
In a dramatic Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Everton’s Jordan Pickford injured Virgil van Dijk with a reckless challenge. Late in the game, Jordan Henderson thought he had scored the winner, but Coote and the VAR team ruled it out due to an offside by Sadio Mane.
3. **Liverpool 2-0 Everton, October 2023**
In another Merseyside derby, referee Craig Pawson initially rejected Liverpool’s penalty appeal for a handball by Everton’s Michael Keane. Coote intervened, recommending Pawson review the incident on the monitor, which led to the penalty being awarded, and Mohamed Salah converting from the spot.
These incidents have sparked renewed scrutiny of Coote’s role in VAR decisions involving Liverpool.
**Everton 2-0 Liverpool, April 2024**
In the second Merseyside derby of the 2023/24 season, Coote controversially overturned a penalty that referee Andy Madley had initially awarded to Everton. After reviewing the incident, Coote concluded that Dominic Calvert-Lewin was offside in the build-up to the challenge, leading to the penalty being rescinded.
**Liverpool 2-0 Wolves, May 2024**
Coote’s final VAR involvement in a Liverpool match came during Jürgen Klopp’s last Premier League game. He intervened after reviewing a foul by Wolves’ Nelson Semedo on Alexis Mac Allister, recommending a red card for Semedo for serious foul play.
These recent incidents have reignited debates over Coote’s VAR decisions involving Liverpool, now further complicated by the ongoing investigation into his conduct.
