Premier League official David Coote finds himself at the centre of a major controversy after being charged by the Football Association for alleged misconduct during Nottingham Forest's dramatic 1-0 defeat against Liverpool.
The experienced referee, who served as the video assistant referee during the highly contentious match at the City Ground, is accused of improper conduct relating to his communication with the match officials.
The Incident That Sparked Outrage
The controversy erupted when Forest were denied possession after play was stopped for a head injury to Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate. Instead of returning the ball to the home side, referee Paul Restart resumed play with a drop-ball to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, leading directly to Darwin Nunez's 99th-minute winner.
Forest's coaching staff and players were visibly furious with the decision, with coach Steven Reid receiving a red card for his protests. The club's former referee analyst Mark Clattenburg also entered the pitch to confront the officials at full-time.
FA Takes Swift Action
The Football Association has moved quickly to address the incident, charging both Coote and Nottingham Forest with misconduct. A statement from the governing body confirmed: "David Coote has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 in relation to his role as the video assistant referee during the Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool on Saturday, 2 March."
Forest face their own charge for failing to ensure their players and officials behaved properly during the explosive finale.
Wider Implications for Premier League Officiating
This incident comes at a sensitive time for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for refereeing in English football. The controversy has reignited debates about VAR implementation and communication standards between match officials.
Both Coote and Nottingham Forest have until Thursday, 14 March to respond to their respective charges. The outcome could have significant implications for how controversial decisions are handled and communicated in future Premier League matches.
