Premier League referee David Coote SUSPENDED as video appears to show him calling Klopp a ‘c***’ in anti-Liverpool rant
PREM referee David Coote has been suspended pending investigation after a shocking viral video allegedly showed him blasting Liverpool.
The highly experienced FA official also appeared to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The 42-year-old refereed Liverpool‘s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday in which he was at the centre of a few controversial decisions.
In the shocking footage, which appears to be from several years ago but was leaked on social media today, Coote is allegedly seen speaking with a fellow man.
Coote vehemently denies inappropriate conduct and has told PGMOL that the video is not genuine, according The Mirror.
In the brief conversation, he refers to Liverpool as a “s*** club” and extraordinarily dropped the C-bomb to describe ex-Reds boss Klopp.
The PGMOL are investigating the video with the referee now facing the sack after being suspended.
The man, who appears to be Coote, said: “Liverpool were s*** .Klopp is an absolute c***.
“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 c***, f*** me.”
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In a second video, the man added: “Just to be clear, that f***ing last video cannot go anywhere, seriously.”
Professional Game Match Officials Ltd said: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
It is unclear what triggered his comments, but Coote was indirectly targeted by Klopp for criticism as recently as last December.
During Saturday’s match between Liverpool and Villa, Coote was the man in the middle.
He appeared to deem Leon Bailey‘s last-man challenge on Mo Salah not to be a foul prior to Darwin Nunez scoring.
Later in the match he opted not to award Villa a penalty despite Conor Bradley tugged Pau Torres‘ shirt in the box.
Coote was also the VAR official on the day that Jordan Pickford inflicted an ACL injury on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby in October 2020.
The Everton goalkeeper escaped without any form of punishment.
Shocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
He was also on VAR duty when Liverpool were denied a clear penalty against Arsenal after Martin Odegaard handled the ball inside the Anfield box during their 1-1 draw last December.
Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue and the game was not halted for a VAR check.
Coote has been a top-flight referee since April 2018 and hails from Nottinghamshire.
He belongs to the Select Group of Referees in England and officiates primarily in the Premier League.