Sports

Premier League official Coote suspended

Published

1 year ago

November 12, 2024

Austin Ojomah

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Premier League official David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect by PGMOL

A video, which remains unverified, appearing to show Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp was widely circulated on social media on Monday.

• David Coote first refereed a game in the Premier League in April 2018
• Coote was born in Nottinghamshire and previously officiated in the Football League.
• Coote is registered as a Notts County fan with PGMOL
• He refereed the Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle in 2023

A PGMOL statement read: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.

“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
Coote was the referee for Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday night.

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool have declined to comment.
Head of referees Howard Webb will be appearing on Match Officials: Mic’d Up on Tuesday night on Sky Sportskeeda
A video being shared appears to refer to the Premier League match between Liverpool – who were already crowned champions – and Burnley, which Coote refereed, in July 2020.
The game finished 1-1 after Jay Rodriguez’s strike cancelled out Andy Robertson’s opener, ending Liverpool’s 24-match winning run at Anfield.

At full-time, Klopp appeared to argue with Coote and his officials on the pitch, and after the match, the former Reds boss said the referee failed to give fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players.

“David Coote appears to be speaking directly to a camera phone and appears to go on to make a number of derogatory comments about Liverpool Football Club and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

“We don’t know if this video is genuine or not at this stage, and neither do PGMOL.

“We need to point out that there is no indication at all as to how old this video is, but it is clearly not recent. In the video, Coote talks about lockdown and being socially distant. He shows the guy interviewing him a picture on his phone where he is wearing a mask. He talks about Klopp and James Milner, who hasn’t played for Liverpool for more than 18 months.

“Coote is an elite Premier League referee. He is part of the elite group of match officials, where he has been since 2018. He had eight years as an EFL referee before that. He is one of the most experienced and highly-thought-of referees in this country, and with that position comes an awful lot of responsibility, in terms of impartiality in particular.

“So any suggestion that Coote or any other elite match official might have bias against a particular Premier League club, or bad feeling towards them or their manager, is a very serious allegation.

“But while I think we need to stress there is history between Klopp and Coote, the latter hasn’t had the chance to explain himself, either to us or indeed the PGMOL, who are his employers.
“This has moved very quickly. It’s a huge story and potentially one that is very damaging, not just for Coote but the PGMOL as well.”

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Sports

Bernardo Silva To Leave Man City At End Of Season

Published

3 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Admin

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Bernardo Silva is set to leave Man City at the end of the season.

The Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Portugal midfielder, 31, has scored 76 goals and made 77 assists in 451 appearances for City since joining from Monaco in 2017.

Last month’s Carabao Cup victory was his 15th major honour with City, including the Treble in 2022-23.

Silva also helped City win the Premier League title with 100 points in 2017-18, all four domestic trophies in 2018-19, and four consecutive league titles between 2021 and 2024.

“What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart,” he said on Instagram., external

“The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the four in a row, and much more. It wasn’t that bad.”

Silva is the only player from City’s modern era in the top 10 of the club’s all-time appearances list and is currently joint-eighth with Mike Summerbee.

He was named club captain following the departure of Kevin de Bruyne at the end of last season and has won six Premier League titles in his first eight seasons with City.

The Blues are currently second in the league and play Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals on 25 April.

“My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys (the fans) could feel proud and well represented on the pitch,” Silva added. “I hope you felt that every single game.

“I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team, and I’m pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new, fantastic memories in the future. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.”

Another long-time City servant is set to depart the Etihad.

Since joining City, Silva has been alongside Pep Guardiola every step of the way and has become the manager’s most trusted lieutenant and his voice on the field.

Once an attacking midfielder, the Portuguese has dropped deeper into a more defensive role, and his high work rate was on show during Sunday’s statement win at Chelsea.

Silva may not have the number of goals and assists Kevin de Bruyne supplied for City, but he was handed the captain’s armband in the summer for “always being there” last season, when they failed to win a major trophy.

And Silva led the side to March’s Carabao Cup triumph over Arsenal to end that barren run, climbing the steps at Wembley to lift a remarkable 19th piece of silverware at the club.

When sitting in for Guardiola following the FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool earlier this month, his assistant Pep Lijnders said “every story comes to an end”.

Guardiola subsequently said Silva had not yet told him what decision he had made on his future, but his departure has now been confirmed, and he will spend the final few weeks of the season trying to win a domestic treble and further cement his status as an undoubted City great.

Sports

Former Arsenal, Liverpool Legend Dies In Train Crash

Published

3 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Admin

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A former Arsenal and Liverpool legend is dead after a train crash.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool goalkeeper passed away on Thursday after his car was struck by a train in Salzburg.

Local reports say that Manninger was driving at a level crossing in Pabing, near Nussdorf am Haunsberg, at 8:20 am before his vehicle was dragged several metres by the train.

Believed to be driving alone, Manninger was pulled from the wreckage but sadly died at the scene.

Austrian outlet Salzburg ORF added that the 25 passengers who were on board the train are thought to be unharmed.

The Austrian FA (OFB) confirmed his death by posting on social media: “The news of Alex Manninger’s death is deeply shocking. With him, football loses a special person.

“In this difficult time, our sincere condolences go to his family, his friends, and all those who were close to him. Much strength for the time ahead.”

Manninger played 39 times for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, the final year of which he became third choice and was loaned to Fiorentina in Italy.

Predominately backup to David Seaman, Manninger helped the Gunners win both the Premier League title and FA Cup during his time in North London.

Arsenal said in a tribute: “Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger.

All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, Alex.”

In a career that spanned 22 years and 15 different clubs, Liverpool was his final destination. He was signed by Jurgen Klopp ahead of the 2016-17 season, although he didn’t make an appearance for Liverpool’s first team.

The club offered their condolences by saying: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the age of 48. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Alex’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Manninger also played for Juventus and earned 33 caps for his country. Tributes are also flooding in from across Europe.

Red Bull Salzburg, for whom Manninger enjoyed two spells playing, posted: “We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander.”

Juventus said, “Today is a terribly sad day. He has left us not only as a great athlete, but as a man of rare values: humility, dedication, and an extraordinary professional seriousness. Juventus expresses its condolences for the passing of Alex Manninger and stands with the family in this moment of grief.”

Another tribute reads: “Fiorentina mourns the sudden passing of Alex Manninger, the Viola goalkeeper in the 2001-2002 season, who had a long career in Italy and as the Austrian national team’s goalkeeper. The entire club joins his family in this moment of profound grief.”

Italian giants Napoli added: “President Aurelio De Laurentiis and all of SSC Napoli join in the mourning for the passing of Alexander Manninger, the goalkeeper who starred in a prestigious career in Italian and European football.”

Just this month, Manninger revealed that he regretted leaving Arsenal ‘too soon’, having been desperate to play more regular football. He told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: “It makes me emotional just thinking about it.

“I was 20, a kid. [Arsene] Wenger wanted to bring an international dimension to the club and focus on young players.

I was one of them. Arsene even introduced a training camp, which was unusual for the Premier League at the time.

“I have to say that, despite my age, I felt comfortable with the goal. Up front, I had a giant like Tony Adams. He taught me so much. I only have one regret: leaving too soon. But you know, I wanted to play.”