Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended pending investigation after a video surfaced online, allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool FC and its former manager, Jurgen Klopp, CNN reports.
The video was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. The clip appears to show Coote, one of the most experienced referees in England, alongside an unidentified man, making disparaging remarks about Klopp and a previous Liverpool performance.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which represents match officials in England, confirmed that Coote had been “suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.” PGMOL stated they would “be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
Coote has officiated in the Premier League since 2018, refereeing some of the biggest games in English football. Most recently, he was the referee for Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The viral video allegedly shows Coote discussing a 2020 match between Liverpool and Burnley, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of last season, had publicly criticized Coote’s officiating during that game.
In the video, Coote allegedly uses expletives to describe Klopp and calls the former manager “arrogant.”
Coote has officiated several Liverpool matches in recent seasons, both as the on-field referee and as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The English Football Association (FA) has confirmed to CNN that they are aware of the incident and are conducting their own investigation.
