There’s a news management thing happens during the international break. Football news generally goes quiet, internationals do not really bring the same number of readers as the club game.
Games and results drive the football media business, with transfer ‘information’ dominating times in the calendar. If you are in the business of writing about football, as these breaks approach, you will maybe stick a piece up your sleeve, to bring out during the fortnight. You will spot everywhere, including here.
This week, UK football outlets have gorged on EPL referee, David Coote. Who seems to have a lassez-faire approach to actions and consequences. Two videos were made public this week.
In the first, from three years ago, he appears ‘tired and emotional’ to use the old euphemism, when making derogatory comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. The second, taken during this year’s Euros (where he was officiating), shows him snorting a white powder. As far as news management goes, someone has knocked it out the park this week.
It’s unlikely we will ever learn who was behind the leaks, although David Coote will surely know. Nor are we likely to learn what went before, and there has surely been some actions before this.
Football referees are as prone to weaknesses as the rest of us. If some are so weak they sniff white powder without checking for cameras, football has a problem. This week will end Coote’s career, with financial consequences for the rest of his life. How compromised was he?
It may be that he was only weak when it came to some videoed comments on superficial racism and illegal substances, while he remained beyond reproach to threats of ending his career if he did not bend to an extortion demand. Let’s hope.
Betting is huge business and the majority of betting on UK games takes place beyond these borders. Money is placed on more than just the result, too. A compromised referee is worth a fortune in the wrong hands.
David Coote is no longer vulnerable to exploitation and maybe the release of these videos is a consequence of him declining to participate in a wider criminal act. Any other referee who has been subject to the videoing of inappropriate acts has a lesson on what can happen. If referees are no different from the rest of society, some may take drugs, gamble themselves into debt and indulge in other nefarious activity.
The wages in England are huge and in Scotland are big enough to accommodate some intrusion. Credit checks, bank statement inspections and background checks would be a reasonable response to an outed human fraility.
318 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Good morning all from Govanhill. Rather chilly but time for my morning constitutional.
Celtic Mac,
I keep saying,how can you lump pensioners from Southern England in with those from Aberdeen when making decisions on heating allowance?.Double figures difference in temperature in many areas.
That was some read back. Paranoia taken to new levels if you believe the Belgian players refused to give Engels the ball.
Hilarious.
lets all do the huddle on 18th November 2024 12:27 am
so i think ive worked out the login pish.
When it asks you to login again, you do it, but it takes you back to the first page. so then click on the last page number, it will tell you to log in again, but ignore that and refresh the browser instead and you are sorted.
LADTH
I was reading back (after my log-in pish) and saw your post. Thanks for that, will try it the next time (which probably won’t be long).
Ave Ave
Winter Fuel allowance is devolved.
Shocking, heartless unjustifible decision by both Westminster and Hollyrood.
lets all do the huddle on 18th November 2024 12:27 am
I should have added to my first post of the day that I followed your instructions too 👍👌
read back login
I would have expected a similar headline regarding the Ghirls game yesterday
NOT
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crmz8gr9713o
Jeanette Findlay represents the finest of Celtic traditions all the way back to the Board Members who invited Michael Davitt to Celtic Park via protesting the invasion of old Czechoslovakia.
Tom McLaughlin
I never saw the Belgian game so I don’t know why or if Engels was cut out of the game, but these things need not be deliberate on players behalf.
I remember when Alan Thompson earned his only senior cap with England, the first player to be picked by that country while playing for Celtic. He was selected on the left side of midfield and England picked a right sided and right footed centre half, might have been Carragher, to play left back behind him. Alan only touched the ball a handful of times as Carragher kept passing into the middle and rarely played a sideline pass. When England went 1:0 behind just after half time, Alan was one of a number to be immediately substituted and never got another chance for England.
Celtic Mac @ 8:01 am re Winter fuel payments.
Yip.
Didn’t understand that one and still don’t.
Terrible optics.
Bad politics.
Marginal economics.
Too much science when the answer is clear.
Played 2, lost 2.
Engels is a Jonah !
Kidding BTW
new article posted.