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The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sacked referee David Coote given eight-week ban for Jurgen Klopp comments
Former Premier League referee David Coote has been given an eight-week suspension and told to attend an education programme over abusive words he used about ex-Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp. Coote was charged by the Football Association in June after the comments about Klopp came to light in a video circulated on social media last November. The FA said he had subsequently admitted the charge. Coote's misconduct was defined as an aggravated breach under the FA's rules because there was a reference to Klopp's nationality. Coote was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last December, a month after the video filmed in July 2020 came to light. PGMOL said in confirming Coote's dismissal last December that his position had become "untenable". In it, Coote is heard saying it had been "s***" to be fourth official at a Liverpool match in the summer of 2020, describing Klopp as a "German c***". He also said Klopp was "f****** arrogant". When the FA charged him over the Klopp comments in June, the governing body said Coote would face no further action in regard to separate allegations of gambling misconduct, which he had strenuously denied. The FA said those allegations had been fully investigated. Coote was banned by European football's governing body Uefa in February until June 30, 2026 after a different video emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for last summer's Euros. In January, Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun and said that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp, and to his drug use. "My sexuality isn't the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I'm not telling an authentic story if I don't say that I'm gay and that I've had real struggles with hiding that," he said. "I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well - a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that's led me to a whole course of behaviours." Coote's formal response to the FA charge was detailed in the regulatory commission's written reasons which were published alongside the confirmation of the sanctions imposed. He accepted his words about Klopp were "crass, inappropriate and unworthy of the role that he held within the game" and asked the commission to accept that his decision not to attend the hearing was not made out of avoidance, but due to his mental state. Coote said the words did not respect his true view of Klopp, for whom he had always had a deep professional respect. The panel wrote: "DC (Coote) stated that he felt an immense sense of shame. He had lost a career that formed the very core of his identity. He had lost all his income and the media attention had deepened his sense of humiliation and despair. "He was trying to piece his life back together, from a place of near total collapse." PA
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sporting merit rendered meaningless – Palace hit out at Europa League demotion
Crystal Palace have claimed 'sporting merit is rendered meaningless' following UEFA's decision to demote them from the Europa League and the Court of Arbitration for Sport's rejection of their appeal. The FA Cup winners were demoted to the Conference League by European football's governing body UEFA on July 11 after it determined that, as of March 1, American businessman John Textor had control or influence at both Palace and French club Lyon. Palace appealed, but on Monday the CAS announced the London club had lost their appeal, with Nottingham Forest expected to take the place in UEFA's second-tier competition. A statement from the Eagles read: 'At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by UEFA and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless. 'When we won the FA Cup against Manchester City on that momentous day in May, our manager and players earned the right to play Europa League football. 'We have been denied that opportunity. 'It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power. 'This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way.'
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Crystal Palace issue furious response to appeal: ‘Sporting merit is meaningless'
Crystal Palace have accused Uefa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) of rendering sporting merit as 'meaningless' after the club's demotion to the Conference League was upheld on appeal. Palace had challenged Uefa's decision to remove them from the Europa League over multi-club ownership rules, but failed in their challenge at Cas on Monday, and will thus play in the tertiary European competition in the upcoming season. Uefa demoted the FA Cup winners after finding that the Eagle Football Group were majority owners of Lyon while their chairman John Textor owned a controlling stake in the London club at the time of assessment in March of this year. Nottingham Forest will replace Crystal Palace in the Europa League having finished seventh in the Premier League last season. Responding to the decision, the London club suggested that 'certain clubs, organisations and individuals' had a 'unique privilege and power', and suggested that the decision-making process over their appeal had been flawed. Crystal Palace said in a statement: 'At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless. 'When we won the FA Cup against Manchester City on that momentous day in May, our manager and players earned the right to play Europa League football. We have been denied that opportunity. 'It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power. This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way. Crystal Palace fans protested against Uefa's decision during the Community Shield (AFP/Getty) 'Multi-club structures hide behind the charade of a 'blind trust' while clubs such as ours, who have no connection to another club whatsoever, are prevented from playing in the same competition. 'To compound the injustice, clubs that appear to have huge informal arrangements with each other are also allowed to participate and even possibly play against each other. 'While we respect the Cas tribunal members, the process is designed to severely restrict and, in our case, make it almost impossible to receive a fair hearing. 'The denial of all disclosure requests to obtain correspondence between the relevant parties, the refusal to allow witness testimony from those involved, and the general lack of formality and respect for law mean decisions cannot be properly challenged, leading to pre-determined outcomes. 'Uefa's decision has wider implications for the governance of the sport. A combination of poorly conceived regulations and their unequal application means our brilliant fans will be deprived of the chance to watch this team compete in the Europa League for the first time in our history. 'This should be a turning point for football. Uefa must fulfil its mandate to pass coherent rules which are properly communicated and applied, with reasonable cure periods to resolve uncertainty and consistent sanctions, treating all clubs equally with a proper appeal process. 'The European Court of Justice has made it clear that rulings similar to this will be under greater scrutiny from national courts in future. Only then will fairness and due process be granted to every team. 'Although we continue to take legal advice on the next steps, we will compete in the Conference League with the same determination and will to win that characterises this incredible club.'
