PGMOL suspends Premier League referee David Coote for allegedly abusing former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp in viral video

"David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete," PGMOL said.

Referee David Coote reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Brentford, at White Hart Lane Stadium in London, England, Wednesday , Jan 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland, File)

English football referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Monday suspended referee David Coote after a video surfaced on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and their former coach Jurgen Klopp.

The unverified video shows a person alleged to be Coote saying, “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*****g pop at me. I’ve got no interest at speaking to someone who’s f*****g arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … My God, German c**t, f**k me.”

In a separate video, the person alleged to be Coote said, “Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously.” To which the person recording the video said, “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad.”

It is unclear when the video was filmed or of its authenticity.

David coote ladies and gentlemen pic.twitter.com/WDHc36a7Mn

— Josh (@Josh97LFC) November 11, 2024

The video in question seems to refer to a Premier League game that Coote refereed between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp publicly criticised Coote after the match, accusing him of not penalising tackles made on Liverpool’s players.

“David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete,” PGMOL told Reuters.

Liverpool did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.

Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday and has been a match official in the Premier League since 2018.

(With agency inputs)