Premier League referee David Coote suspended: His remarks on Jurgen Klopp and ongoing investigation

A Premier League referee, David Coote, has been suspended following a video in which he made derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. The viral video shows Coote calling Klopp “arrogant,” and “Gemran cunt” and accused him of using offensive language. Coote was recently in charge of Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday, however, he has now been suspended by the referees body Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) pending a full investigation.

The Football Association (FA) is also investigating the matter. The investigation is expected to look into whether Coote’s comments against Klopp’s nationality result in an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. “We are aware of the matter, and we are investigating it,” an FA spokesman said on Tuesday.

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Coote recounts past experience with Klopp in viral video

The video appears to refer to a match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which finished 1-1. Liverpool had already been crowned champions.

Klopp criticised Coote after the match, saying the referee had been too lenient in his treatment of Burnley challenges.

Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield.

The German was also critical of Coote over an incident in a match against Arsenal last season in which Gunners midfielder Martin Odegaard’s hand made contact with the ball.

Coote, as VAR, did not advise on-field official Chris Kavanagh to review the incident.

Coote was also the VAR in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 2020 when Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford inflicted a season-ending injury on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

Pickford was not sent off for the challenge and did not face retrospective action because, under FA rules, that can only happen if an incident was not seen either at the time or when it was reviewed by VAR.

Retired referee Mike Dean, now a TV pundit, believes the incident will have a damaging effect on officials throughout English football.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the 56-year-old said: “As referees you can’t put yourself in that position no matter what you do.

“You can say things away from camera, you can talk amongst your friends and things and colleagues, but you can’t let somebody video this and then hope that it’s never going to come out.”

Here’s everything Premier League referee David Coote said on Jurgen Klopp in viral videos:

David coote ladies and gentlemen pic.twitter.com/WDHc36a7Mn

— Josh (@Josh97LFC) November 11, 2024

Coote: Liverpool were s***. Like, really s***.

Friend: What do you think of Jurgen Klopp?

Coote: C***. Absolute c***.

Friend: Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp was a c***?

Coote: Umm. Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying then just had a right f***ing pop at me, I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f***ing arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him.

Coote added: Milner’s alright. I get on with Milner.

Friend: He gets on with James Milner!

Coote: You can see me there with mask on, Covid, got to be done. Social distancing, right? We’re two metres apart.

Friend: We have to social distance.

Coote: But, my god, German c***. F*** me.

Friend: Long story short. Jurgen Klopp‘s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s and we hate Scousers.

Coote (in second video): Just to be clear, that f***ing last video can’t go anywhere. Seriously.

Friend: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career. Let’s face it, we’re good blokes, but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.

With agency inputs