Premier League Referee David Coote Suspended After Leaked Video Criticizing Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool

TDT | Manama

Email: hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) following the release of a video in which he makes offensive remarks about Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and the team. In the video, Coote is heard calling Klopp a “German c***” and describing Liverpool as “s***,” which has ignited outrage across the football community.

The video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, appears to have been filmed during the 2020-2021 season. In the recording, Coote is shown criticizing Klopp for being “arrogant” and claims that the Liverpool manager accused him of lying after a controversial 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Burnley during the Project Restart in 2020. Coote was also the fourth official during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, just before the video surfaced.

In response to the leak, PGMOL announced: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. No further comment will be made until the process is complete.”

Coote, who has refereed Liverpool matches on multiple occasions, also disparaged the Liverpool team’s performance in an unidentified game, adding fuel to the ongoing tensions between the official and the club. Liverpool and Klopp have a contentious history with Coote, particularly in light of past decisions, including the controversial lack of a red card for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after his tackle on Virgil van Dijk in 2020, which left the defender with a serious injury. Coote’s role as VAR in other matches involving Liverpool, including a missed penalty call in a match against Arsenal, further strained his relationship with Klopp and Liverpool fans.

In the video, Coote also makes sarcastic remarks regarding social distancing protocols, potentially indicating a breach of COVID-19 regulations. At the end of the recording, Coote asks that the video not be shared, expressing concerns about the potential impact on his career.

With an investigation underway, Liverpool has refrained from commenting, although the club is said to be monitoring developments closely.