Will Jennings has his say on David Coote and Liverpool controversy

As all of us of a yellow and green persuasion prepared for a grim two weeks reflecting on Norwich City’s recent rut, along came a dramatic week of news where a Premier League referee’s reputation was left in tatters and Harry Kane took aim at several of his England team-mates for failing to put their country first.

Of course, it was the first story surrounding David Coote that raised the most eyebrows – but it was fascinating to note captain Kane’s comments that explicitly criticised eight fellow stars for ducking a tough-looking trip to Athens and opting to stay with their clubs instead.

As reaction to Kane’s entirely understandable views unfolded, however, the Coote story continued to rumble on as allegations against the disgraced top-flight official intensified towards the back end of the week.

So much has been said, written and argued since the video of Coote’s explicative-laden rant towards Jurgen Klopp and of course, it’s impossible to dispute his actions constituted a gross lack of judgement.

But I’m sorry, Liverpool fans and beyond – the idea that Coote is inherently corrupt, biased or unfit to referee is quite frankly ridiculous.

David Coote's refereeing career is in the balance (Image: PA)

I understand that people are angry that Coote, 42, hit out at Klopp in an arguably xenophobic manner.

And absolutely – I agree he should not have made such misguided remarks in the presence of a young bloke – now known to be former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt – recording him in a video that was inevitably going to find its way onto the internet at some point.

Stupidity, idiocy, foolishness and lack of judgement – absolutely.

But corruption?

Do me a favour.

Everybody has colleagues, clients or whoever at work I’m sure they have expressed derogatory remarks about when they get home from the office.

But that doesn’t mean that when we need to service them or do what we’re told, we do not do so professionally or to the best of our ability.

Even if a similar – completely hypothetical, and hugely unlikely, of course – video emerged of a Championship official laying into Johannes Hoff Thorup, I don’t think I’d doubt his professionalism or ability to referee Norwich City.

Just like Coote, it’s a personal vendetta against one individual – not whole club – who hurled horrific abuse at him and naturally left him feeling aggrieved.

Which links onto the next point – is Coote, a man who gets vilified and abused every single time he steps into the workplace, not allowed to express opinions or voice his personal views in what he believes to be a private space?

Referees are not robots – Coote is a human being and as articulated in the now infamous clip, is bound to not take fondly to a man who ripped into him in such an aggressive, bullying and confrontational manner.

Again, from a Norwich City perspective – if referee James Bell, who received a ban and fine-inducing verbal volley from Kenny McLean after sending him off in the dramatic draw against Middlesbrough, was caught saying he wasn’t the biggest fan of the Canaries captain, I would completely understand that entirely natural reaction.

This whole story is another classic example of football fans, who along with players and managers, dish out a tirade of abuse towards referees every single week, getting rattled as soon as the other side has one minor pop back in return.

In some respects, the reaction has reminded me of Dean Smith’s demise when the former City boss – again, idiotically but equally understandably – fired back at sections of our fanbase for failing to get behind his side when they played at Carrow Road.

Like Coote, Smith was misguided and wrong to do so publicly.

But at the same time, it was a natural human reaction and the much-maligned former manager was entitled to a right to reply.

So Coote is not corrupt, biased or unfit to officiate matches ever again.

He is allowed to possess opinions and personal grievances at individuals who have done everything in their power to make his life hell.

Of course, his actions were foolish and have put his career in jeopardy.

But after a fascinating week of developments, I remain firmly sympathetic to a man who admittedly made an error but was only articulating a perfectly understandable opinion about one of many managers who have hurled far, far worse in the other direction.