David Coote has embarrassed himself, but more importantly, he has jeopardized the integrity of refereeing. His recent outburst against Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool was not only thoughtless but could have long-lasting repercussions for the sport. There are many aspects of the video featuring Premier League referee David Coote that I would prefer to remain in the dark about. I don’t want to know why he appears to be at a disheveled after-party during the pandemic, nor do I care about the identity of the person filming or their motivations. What I am keen to understand is what led Coote to believe that speaking out in such a manner was a wise decision. As a result of his comments, Coote has been suspended by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) while an investigation is underway. The organization has not provided a timeline for this process, but unless the swirling rumors about the video being AI-generated turn out to be true, the conclusion seems inevitable. The 42-year-old has tarnished the reputation of the sport and is likely facing the possibility of never officiating again.