Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after a video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp.
The suspension, effective immediately, is pending a full investigation by the refereeing body PGMOL.
The authenticity of the video, which has gained widespread attention online, has not been verified by the BBC, and it remains unclear when it was recorded.
Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s recent 2-0 victory against Aston Villa and is considered one of the Premier League’s most experienced referees, having been in the role since 2018.
The video appears to reference a match between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Following that match, Klopp criticized Coote for not penalizing fouls against Liverpool players.
Referees are required to disclose their club affiliations, and Coote, a Nottingham native, is registered as a fan of Notts County, which prevents him from officiating their matches or those of Nottingham Forest.
PGMOL has stated that it will refrain from further comments until the investigation is concluded.
Background on the Burnley Match
In July 2020, after securing their first Premier League title, Liverpool aimed to become the first team to win every home game in a season. At the time, they were on a remarkable 24-match winning streak at Anfield, holding a substantial 25-point lead over Manchester City.
Jürgen Klopp’s team was also in pursuit of becoming the second team to reach 100 points in a 38-game Premier League season, matching Manchester City’s record from the 2017-18 campaign. Liverpool took the lead against Burnley with a goal from Andrew Robertson, but Jay Rodriguez equalized for the visitors.
Post-match, Klopp engaged in a heated discussion with Coote and his officials on the pitch. He expressed frustration with the refereeing, stating, “The referee let lots of challenges go… We were angry with the referee, but we have to criticize ourselves first for not finishing the game.” Unfortunately for Liverpool, they lost their next match against Arsenal, ending their hopes of reaching 100 points that season.
