Breaking News: David Coote overturned 5 VAR decisions in Liverpool matches including handball incident

Following the release of a contentious video, David Coote was suspended. He was more frequently involved in Liverpool Premier League games as a VAR than a referee, causing five overturns.

Referee David Coote (Image: Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

After a video surfaced on social media, Premier League referee David Coote was suspended pending a thorough investigation.

It seemed to capture him saying hurtful things against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. Over the years, Coote has been a part of a number of contentious Reds games. Andy Robertson let loose a tirade full of profanity at him after he failed to give Liverpool a penalty in a draw with Burnley. Following Jordan Pickford’s season-ending challenge on Virgil van Dijk while Coote was the Video Assistant Referee, Klopp accused him of forgetting the rules.

The 42-year-old official has significantly more experience off the pitch than on the pitch when it comes to Liverpool in the Premier League. Coote has been on VAR duty for 13 of the Reds’ league games, but he has only officiated three of them. The contentious referee has overturned five games after video review in his capacity as the latter.

Three of the quartet voted for Liverpool before the conspiracy theorists roared with excitement. Here’s a deeper look at the five VAR overturns that Coote suggested the Reds use in Premier League games.

October 2019, Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool

When the home team scored, Liverpool supporters hoped Coote would step in since Divock Origi looked to have been fouled in the build-up to the goal. But when Sadio Mane put the ball in the Manchester United net, he intervened, telling referee Martin Atkinson that the Senegalese attacker had used his hand to control the ball.

Everton 2-2 October 2020, Liverpool

There were other issues surrounding the 2020–21 Goodison Park derby besides the Pickford moment. Mane was declared offside in the final minute, denying Jordan Henderson what appeared to be the game-winning goal.

Liverpool 2-0 In October 2023, Everton

After Blues defender Michael Keane handled the ball in the box, referee Craig Pawson first waved away appeals for a penalty at the Kop end. Mohamed Salah buried the spot kick after Coote gave the referee instructions to assess the incident on the monitor. Later, he added another goal.

Everton 2-0 April 2024, Liverpool

Perhaps Coote should be barred from the Merseyside derby by the PGMOL? Nevertheless, he declared that Dominic Calvert-Lewin had gone offside during the build-up and revoked a penalty that had been given to Everton. Liverpool was in such bad shape that evening that the respite had no effect at all.

Wolves 2-0 Liverpool, May 2024

Given what has now come to light, it is a delicious irony that Coote made Klopp’s last game as manager of Liverpool easier. After a video review, Nelson Semedo was sent off for challenging Alexis Mac Allister in what was judged to be major foul play.