Who David Coote supports revealed amid PGMOL suspension for alleged Liverpool rant

Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after a video surfaced online allegedly showing him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and then-manager Jurgen Klopp.

The contentious clip, the authenticity of which remains in question, depicts Coote engaged in a conversational exchange with an unidentified individual, discussing past Liverpool matches. Queried on his thoughts regarding an earlier Liverpool game, Coote allegedly retorted: "Liverpool were s***."

Further probed about Klopp, he is claimed to have answered: "C***. Absolute c***." In addition, he is reported to have said: "Aside from having a right pop at me when I refereed them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying then had a right f****** pop at me."

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The PGMOL quickly issued an official statement declaring: "David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete."

The Mirror adds that Coote recognises the viral footage but reportedly fails to remember the particulars of the conversation. Amid fervent discussion over Coote's football loyalties, it has emerged that he is a supporter of League Two outfit Notts County, due to his Nottinghamshire roots.

Notts have had a strong start to the season, currently sitting third in the table with seven wins and six draws from their 15 league matches. Stuart Maynard's team, who returned to the Football League in 2023 after a four-year break, were held to a 1-1 draw at Doncaster on Saturday.

Coote, 42, began his refereeing career at the age of 16, progressing from the Notts Alliance League to the National League and EFL. His father, also named David Coote, was a professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire.

After being promoted to the list of EFL referees in 2010, Coote officiated the 2014 League One play-off final at Wembley where Rotherham defeated Leyton Orient on penalties. Coote was promoted to referee in the Premier League in April 2018, overseeing West Brom's victory over Newcastle.