English Premier League Referee, David Coote Suspended

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has officially announced the immediate suspension of referee David Coote, pending an ongoing investigation into his conduct.

David Coote’s suspension was confirmed in a formal statement released on Monday evening, November 11.

The suspension comes in the wake of a leaked video that has surfaced, wherein Coote made derogatory remarks about Liverpool Football Club.

He referred to the club using a vulgar term and openly expressed contempt for the club’s former manager, Jurgen Klopp. These comments have sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions regarding the impartiality and professionalism expected of match officials in the sport.

A statement from PGMOL claimed, “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.

“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”

Coote, who notably served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during a controversial Premier League match on December 2023 between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield, now finds himself at the centre of this inquiry.

That particular match was marred by several contentious decisions, which fueled the debate around officiating standards.

One significant incident involved Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, who appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area, a play that prevented Mohamed Salah from securing a clear scoring opportunity.

The repercussions of this incident, coupled with the recent allegations, have intensified the scrutiny on Coote and ultimately led to his suspension, as PGMOL strives to uphold the integrity of officiating at the highest levels of football.