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Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended for a video allegedly showing him disrespecting Liverpool and calling former manager Jurgen Klopp an ‘arrogant German ****’.
In an incident which brings the top flight’s integrity into disrepute, a video was widely circulated on social media of Coote entering into a foul-mouthed rant about Klopp several years ago.
Refereeing body, the PGMOL, immediately launched an investigation and suspended Coote. ‘Liverpool were shit,’ said the man alleged to be Coote in the video.
‘(Klopp is a) ****, absolute ****. Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop of me.
‘I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. (James) Milner is all right, I get on with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German ****, f*** me.’
An astonishing leaked video appearing to show Premier League official David Coote calling Liverpool 's***' and Jurgen Klopp a 'German ****' is being investigated by referees chiefs
Coote, who was the man in charge during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa this weekend, has been suspended with immediate effect by PGMOL pending a full investigation
It is understood the video is genuine and not a deepfake using artificial intelligence.
Mail Sport asked PGMOL if they had verified the clip’s validity but was not given a definitive answer other than that the investigation had been launched.
Liverpool were also approached for comment but it is understood they will not be making a statement on the matter while the investigation is ongoing.
The Premier League leaders are aware of the video. Coote, 42, started refereeing as a 16-year-old in Nottinghamshire and has been a Premier League official since 2018.
He is a regular fourth official, VAR operator and is also on the UEFA circuit. Appointments for this week’s Nations League fixtures are yet to be confirmed.
The video went viral thanks to a user on X with the handle @Josh97LFC.
Mail Sport contacted the individual, a Liverpool fan, and was told he was sent the video in a WhatsApp group chat with the ‘forwarded many times’ icon.
The footage appears to be taken after Coote officiated Liverpool's controversial 1-1 draw against Burnley in 2020, when Andy Robertson was left furious at the Premier League referee
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp clashing with Coote during a league match back in 2022
Coote has been in the line of fire from Liverpool fans for some years due to incidents he has been involved in.
These include a potential handball in the penalty area by Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard last season and a nasty challenge by Jordan Pickford that injured Virgil van Dijk, neither of which were penalised when he was the VAR.
Match Officials Mic’d Up, the show hosted by Howard Webb and Michael Owen as they dissect refereeing decisions made in the Premier League, is set to be broadcast this evening on Sky Sports and TNT at 7pm.
It is expected to be broadcasted as scheduled but PGMOL could still request it be pulled to avoid further scrutiny.
