Fans have hit out at Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville after he finally broke his silence about David Coote's controversial comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp.
On Monday, a video went viral on social media showing Premier League referee Coote making shocking comments about Liverpool and former manager Klopp.
In response to the clip, the PGMOL announced that it has launched a full investigation and that Coote had been suspended with 'immediate effect'.
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And now. former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Neville has had his say on the incident, and fans are not happy with him.
Speaking on the It's Called Soccer podcast, Neville said: "If we look at the words that David Coote has said obviously it's going to bring him great disappointment and it'll bring great disappointment to the refereeing community.
"He's called Jurgen Klopp the C-word, which is obviously an aggressive word, but I didn't see anything within his words that he had influenced decisions in the wrong way or was trying to do Liverpool over or do another club over.
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"But it's something that he obviously should never have done and something that I'm sure he'll regret for the rest of his life.
"He's been stitched up and I honestly feel he's got pissed up, he's got bladdered and he's let his mate film him, which is stupid.
"We've all been there when we've had too many drinks and done something we wish we hadn't and the idea that he'd lose his job for that, I'd hope that they can get through it.
"I don’t believe David Coote is anti-Liverpool in games. I don't believe he gave bad decisions against them because he wants to.
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“I could give you the name of 3 referees that I didn’t like, I genuinely thought were against us during our career. But I don't believe for one minute that they were frauds or were corrupt…I just thought they didn’t get on with me. I feel players know that and managers know that."
Neville argued that the 42-year-old official should not be 'cancelled' and removed from all Premier League, but agreed that he should no longer oversee Liverpool matches.
However, fans were not happy with his response, as some took to social media to call him out.
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Posting on X, one fan wrote: "Gary is towing the line here, it’s embarrassing."
Another agreed, simply adding" "Embarrassing from Gary."
While one suggested: "Gary clearly didn't watch the video carefully enough. Watch it again Gary."
And another asked: "Why is Gary defending Coote? He deserves whatever comes his way it's his own fault."
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Gary Neville, Premier League, Fan Reactions, VAR
Ben McCrum