Chelsea: Enzo Maresca confident in Premier League referees after David Coote scandal | OneFootball

Premier League returns for first time since scandal broke

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists he has absolute confidence in Premier League referees, despite the David Coote scandal that has dominated the international break.

The Blues travel to Maresca’s former club Leicester on Saturday lunchtime in what will be the first Premier League game since video emerged of Coote’s alleged foul-mouthed attack on Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.

A second video was later published by The Sun newspaper, allegedly showing Coote sniffing a white powder at a Uefa-appointed hotel during Euro 2024.

Coote has been suspended by refereeing chiefs PGMOL, as well as by Uefa, while both bodies conduct investigations.

“I have seen it,” Maresca said of the first video, which refers to Liverpool and Klopp. “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 it is wrong. If you as a journalist say the same it is something wrong.

“So, no matter that he is a referee. Any human being that says these kind of things it is not good.”

There is concern that the video will now ramp up scrutiny on Coote’s refereeing colleagues as the Premier League season resumes, leaving them open to accusations of bias.

However, when asked whether he had confidence in Premier League officials, Maresca insisted: “Absolutely”.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.