Mike Dean reveals David Coote text and breaks silence on alleged Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp rant

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has revealed he has exchanged text messages with David Coote and questions whether he will officiate again given the emergence of the now-infamous video that appears to show him degrading Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.

Coote has been suspended pending an investigation into the video by referee body The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL). The Football Association has also launched its own investigation after the man in the video was heard calling Klopp a “German c***”.

Dean says the video, if verified, will be damaging for the reputation of referees throughout the pyramid but retains hope that there is still a way Coote can continue his career in some form. He nevertheless admitted he was left ”astounded” when he first saw the footage.

“As referees you can’t put yourself in that position, it doesn’t matter what you do,” he told Sky Sports. “You can say things away from camera and amongst friends but you can’t let somebody video this and hope this will never come out.”

He added: “I texted him yesterday - he’s still a colleague in a way - just to see how he was. And he replied with a message that I wouldn’t disclose to anybody.

“But he’ll be devastated today, like most of the referees will be devastated that somebody has actually gone and done this video. I think the majority of the referees have contacted him, I’d be astounded if they never; referees, assistant referees, coaches. Obviously his manager would have gotten in contact with him.”

Dean said the incident, if corroborated, would be something “out of character” for Coote, who presided over Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday. He is unsure whether the 42-year-old would want to go back into officiating given the scrutiny that has ensued.

“I don’t think he’s damaged his career beyond repair,” Dean added. “I’d like to think they [PGMOL] can come to some agreement and it also depends on what’s gone on with David, with all this media attention, would David want to still carry on refereeing?

“That’s the bigger picture you have got to think of. It doesn't just affect David but his friends and his family as well, so does he want to put himself through it yet again?

“And obviously it will hard to come back and start his refereeing career again whether it’s in the Championship to start with then get back into the Premier League. It will be a hard step for him to come back.”

On the impact it will have on his colleagues, Dean said: “It’s damaging for everybody involved, when I saw it yesterday I couldn’t believe it. You kind of look at it two or three times before you realise who it is and what’s going on and what’s been said.

“I think from the top and right down to the bottom, it will devastate referees and grassroots up to the Football League. You’ve just got to be so careful with what you say and it’s so out of character for David to do this, I was astounded when I saw it.”

Dean outlined that he feels “sorry for David as a friend and a colleague” given the inevitable impact the video will have on his career, if he is indeed identified as the man in the footage.