Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after a video emerged in which he allegedly insults Liverpool FC and its former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
The video, circulating on social media, appears to show Coote making derogatory remarks, labeling Liverpool as “s***” and calling Klopp a “German c***” during a conversation with another person.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), responsible for overseeing refereeing in the Premier League, announced Coote’s immediate suspension pending a full investigation. PGMOL has stated that it will not provide further comments until the inquiry is complete.
In the clip, a man believed to be Coote also recalls previous encounters with Klopp, including an incident during a match against Burnley in the pandemic lockdown period.
He describes Klopp as “arrogant” and admits avoiding interactions with him, though he does express a positive view of Liverpool midfielder James Milner.
Coote had recently officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on November 9. However, the video in question appears to have been recorded earlier.
The incident has sparked concerns over the referee’s impartiality and professionalism, prompting his suspension as PGMOL conducts its review.
