Premier League referee Coote suspended over alleged anti-Liverpool and Klopp video

The English referees' body, PGMOL, suspended Premier League referee David Coote after a video allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp surfaced online.

In Short

• Referee David Coote suspended over derogatory video
• Video shows Coote criticising Klopp and Liverpool
• PGMOL investigating; no further comments yet

Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly shows him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager J¼rgen Klopp. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body for referees in English football, confirmed Coote’s suspension on Monday, pending a full investigation into the incident.

In the unverified video, Coote, 42, is purportedly seen expressing negative opinions about Klopp, who left Liverpool in May, and the club itself. The video, reportedly filmed on a mobile phone, features Coote allegedly using explicit language to describe his dislike for Klopp, labeling the German manager “arrogant” and claiming Klopp had “accused me of lying” following a game between Liverpool and Burnley in 2020.

This particular match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was one of several instances where Klopp publicly voiced frustration with Coote's officiating, alleging the referee failed to penalize rough tackles on Liverpool players. The German manager, known for his passionate sideline presence, had a history of run-ins with Coote, including a heated dispute following a contentious decision in a Liverpool-Arsenal clash last season when Coote was a Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Klopp believed Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard handled the ball in the penalty area, but no penalty was awarded.

While the authenticity and timing of the footage remain unclear, PGMOL stated, “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”

A second clip, seemingly recorded immediately after the first, reportedly captures the individuals on camera acknowledging the sensitive nature of the conversation. “Let’s not (expletive) ruin his career,” says a voice, implying an awareness of the potential consequences should the footage become public.

Liverpool Football Club has reportedly been made aware of the video but has declined to comment in light of PGMOL’s investigation.

David Coote has been a match official in the Premier League since 2018 and most recently officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. His career has featured some high-profile incidents involving Liverpool, including the controversial 2020 Merseyside derby. In that game, Coote, acting as the VAR, did not recommend a red card for Everton’s Jordan Pickford after a challenge that left Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk with a serious knee injury, leading to outcry from Klopp and Liverpool supporters.

J¼rgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool earlier this year marked the end of an era, with the former Borussia Dortmund manager achieving immense success during his time at Anfield, including a Premier League title and a Champions League trophy. Klopp’s exit led to the appointment of Dutchman Arne Slot as his successor.