While many assume that Premier League referees are supposed to be neutral and have to be affiliated with any club, surprisingly, some referees support some clubs after all. Don’t blame them if they do because they are human, after all.
The neutrality of referees has been headlined this week after Premier League referee David Coote was suspended for derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
Although we are in the cloud about how the video finds its way into the public space, The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) takes the video as authentic. David Coote is being suspended amid PGMOL investigations.
In the video, David Coote is asked for his opinion on a Liverpool match where he has just been the fourth official and describes them as “s***”.
He then used an offensive term to describe Klopp and quizzed why he felt that way; David Coote says that Klopp had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying.
“I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him.”
PGMOL said in a statement: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.
“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
Which Club do Premier League Referees support?
Among the over 20 referees in the Premier League, only a few are fans of Premier League clubs.
Below is a list of referees and the clubs they support:
- Sam Allison – Unknown, but used to play for Bournemouth
- Stuart Attwell – Luton Town
- Peter Bankes – Unknown but has never refereed Liverpool or Everton
- Samuel Barrott – Unknown
- Darren Bond – Wigan but has never refereed Liverpool or Everton
- Thomas Bramall – Unknown but has never refereed a Sheffield club
- John Brookes – Believed to be Leicester City
- David Coote – Notts County, has never refereed a Forest game
- Darren England – Barnsley
- Sunny Singh Gill – Unknown
- Jarred Gillett – Liverpool
- Tony Harrington – Hartlepool
- Simon Hooper – Swindon Town
- Rob Jones – Unknown but has never refereed Liverpool or Everton
- Chris Kavanagh – Droylsden
- Andy Madley – Huddersfield Town
- Bobby Madley – Huddersfield Town
- Michael Oliver – Newcastle United
- Craig Pawson – Sheffield United
- Tim Robinson – Unknown
- Michael Salisbury – Unknown
- Graham Scot – Swindon Town
- Anthony Taylor – Altrincham
- Paul Tierney – Wigan Athletic
Are Referees allowed to officiate the games of the clubs they support?
It is worth knowing that Premier League referees are not allowed to take officiate games involving the club they support – or even those of their main rivals.
Keith Hackett, former head of the PGMOL who oversees referee appointments, said:” ‘At the beginning of every season, the referees’ background information is audited.
“They complete a form that includes who they support, the history of if they’ve played the game and with the addresses where they are residing.
“That gives you a picture that comes into use when you’re appointing. It’s about ensuring, for example, you wouldn’t appoint a Sheffield-based ref for a Sheffield team.”
Our sports team will keep you updated on any new developments in the case of David Coote.
