English Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended following the emergence of a video in which he allegedly made derogatory comments about Liverpool FC and former manager Jürgen Klopp.
The video, which has circulated widely on social media, appears to show Coote using offensive language to describe Liverpool and Klopp. In the clip, he allegedly refers to Liverpool as “s***” and Klopp as a “German c***”.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which oversees officiating in the Premier League, has confirmed Coote’s immediate suspension pending a full investigation. PGMOL has declined to comment further until the investigation is complete.
In the video, Coote is also alleged to have recounted past interactions with Klopp, including a game against Burnley during the pandemic lockdown. He reportedly described Klopp as “arrogant” and expressed a preference to avoid speaking with him. However, he did acknowledge his admiration for Liverpool player James Milner.
Coote was the referee for Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, November 9th. While it is unclear when the video was recorded, the incident has raised serious questions about impartiality and professionalism within the refereeing community.
