The Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after video footage emerged apparently showing him calling Jürgen Klopp a “German cunt” and Liverpool “shit”.
The referee claimed that Klopp was “arrogant” and had accused him of lying after a match between Liverpool and Burnley during Project Restart in 2020, as revealed in a video making round on social media on Monday.
In the leaked video, Coote was asked by a friend for his opinion of Klopp, Coote responds: “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 fucking pop at me. I’ve got no interest at speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … My God, German cunt, fuck me.” The derogatory remark about Liverpool refers to the team’s performance in a game at which Coote was the fourth official.
In a separate video, Coote appears to ask viewers not to share the original recording. “Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously,” he says. The friend says: “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad.”
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David Coote suspended by the PGMOL
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.”
Coote’s final game before the leaked video and his eventual suspension was the 2-0 win for Liverpool against Aston Villa last weekend.
