Former referee Mark Halsey has questioned the initial decision to appoint David Coote as VAR official for Liverpool game
In an interview with TalkSPORT (h/t Daily Star), ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey has questioned the initial decision to assign VAR duty to David Coote when Liverpool take on Leicester later this weekend.
This will be Coote’s first appearance in a Liverpool match since his controversial performance in last month’s Merseyside derby. The official was highly criticized for not advising the on-field referee to send off Jordan Pickford for a tackle on Virgil van Dijk that put the Dutchman on the treatment table. (h/t Daily Star)
Virgil van Dijk contested for a ball with Jordan Pickford, who tackled the defender recklessly after the offside flag was raised. It remained unsure if David Coote even checked for a potential red card as the Dutchman was forced to leave the pitch due to an ACL injury.
A subsequent offside decision by VAR which controversially ruled out Jordan Henderson’s stoppage-time winner made Liverpool force the Premier League to review ‘key decisions‘.
David Coote was set to be the VAR official in Liverpool’s top of the table clash with Leicester City this weekend but has been subsequently taken off and put in charge of West Brom’s away trip to Old Trafford this Saturday.
Ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey has raised eyebrows at the initial decision to put Coote into the “pressure cooker” of a Liverpool match.
“It’s poor appointing. There was a massive furore about the incident and we had two or three different reasons why it wasn’t picked up; the offside nullified the challenge which was nonsense. Why put him in that pressure cooker? There was no need to put him on that fixture list as VAR with Liverpool.”
Mark Halsey went on to reluctantly speak about the degrading quality of officiating in the Premier League in recent years. He cited the lack of top coaches that can coach the next generation of PL referees.
“I hate to criticise fellow colleagues but over the last six to seven years the standard is dropping alarmingly, at all levels. Top coaches turn average players into good players, good players into excellent players – it is no different with referees. We have a failing with a number of top coaches who can take our referees forward.”
Andre Mariner has been replaced as the VAR official for the weekend clash, as we welcome a high-flying Leicester City at Anfield.
