Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has labelled referee David Coote's derogatory comments about Liverpool and ex-manager Jurgen Klopp 'unacceptable'.
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Maresca says Coote comments are indefensibleCoote insulted Klopp & Liverpool in leaked videoMaresca heads to former club Leicester on SaturdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
On the Monday after the Premier League paused for the November international break, social media became awash with leaked footage of Coote labelling Liverpool "sh*t", and Klopp a "German c*nt". A second video later emerged of Coote allegedly sniffing a white powder in his hotel room at Euro 2024 in Germany in the summer. A PGMOL investigation is ongoing and Coote has been suspended both domestically and by UEFA.
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In a press conference ahead of Chelsea's clash with his former employers Leicester City, Maresca was asked about the video of Coote slandering Liverpool and did not hold back in his response. While no decision on Coote's future in officiating has been made, the videos are naturally still a major talking point, and Maresca's reaction to the footage is one of the most damning yet.
Getty Images SportWHAT MARESCA SAID
Asked what he made of the footage of Coote, Maresca responded: "These kinds of things are not the reaction [you expect] from a player, a manager, a referee, or a normal human being who is not involved in football. It doesn’t matter that he is a referee."
He added: “The reaction is not the best one because there are things that are not correct to say. It doesn’t matter that he is a referee. If I, as a manager, say the same thing it is wrong. If a journalist says the same it is wrong. So it doesn’t matter that he is a referee. Any human being that says these kinds of things. It is not good.”
Asked about the prospect of facing his former club Leicester, Maresca was reflective: "We had many good moments. The way I will receive them, the players, the owners, the sporting directors, the guys working there. It was hard to leave for sure because there was a good connection between human beings.
"The owners did everything they could to convince me to stay. He completely understood but the connection was fantastic."
WHAT NEXT FOR MARESCA, CHELSEA AND COOTE?
Maresca and Chelsea travel to King Power Stadium for Saturday's early kick-off to face Leicester, a game they go into as firm favourites. Should they win, they will close the gap to second-placed Manchester City, at least temporarily.
As for Coote, the future is less clear. Still suspended by the PGMOL, the outcome of the investigation is still pending, but with the nature of his comments it is unlikely he will return to refereeing any time soon.
