Punishing David Coote would not address the root of this problem. How can you expect referees to take abuse every time they cross the line to do their job and then hold a positive view of their abuser(s)?

Walking past a local park pitch on a Saturday and Sunday, you'll hear kids shouting at the man in the middle.

They are not born hating officials; it's a learned attitude from the very top of our national sport.

The Premier League needs to shoulder responsibility and control their whiny, overpaid prima-donnas behavior.

Do you think rugby referees hold the same views about the captains and managers they deal with? I'd wager a bet not - because they're treated with respect.

The attitude towards football officials up and down the country absolutely stinks.

Whatever Coote has been up to off the pitch - and if it breaches his contract he should be sacked - it would not have impacted his impartiality on it.

We're forever hearing footballers say they can shut out the outside world once the first whistle goes. The same is true for referees.

Feelings are put to one side and decisions are made on instinct and knowledge of the game's laws.

Assessors and panels analyse each major decision a referee makes, so any sign of bias would have been flagged long ago.

This witch-hunt cannot be led down the wrong path.

But it should serve as a warning of the impact constantly screaming at officials can have.

Chiles to replace Lineker

IF the BBC can't land Mark Chapman, who is by far the best candidate to replace Gary Lineker, it would be pleasant to have Adrian Chiles' dry wit return to our screens, even if for a short while.

The former MOTD 2 presenter caused a storm when he quit to join ITV in 2010.

But with a new boss at BBC Sport, there should be no bad blood remaining.