Premier League referee David Coote suspended over foul-mouthed video blasting Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool
Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after video footage emerged which appears to show him branding Liverpool 's***' and Jurgen Klopp a 'German c***'.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) - the body responsible for overseeing match officials - has launched an investigation after footage was widely circulated on social media.
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The PGMOL said in a statement on Monday: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
talkSPORT understands that Coote has accepted that the video is genuine.
The video, which was widely circulated on social media on Monday, appears to refer to a Premier League match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended 1-1.
In the clip, Coote appears to label former Liverpool boss Klopp as a 'German c***', while also branding him as 'arrogant'.
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Asked for his thoughts by an unknown individual about Liverpool, he eplies: "Liverpool were s***."
Pressed for his view on Klopp, he then remarks: "(Klopp is a) c***, absolute c***.
"Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f****** pop of me.
"I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f****** arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him.
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"(James) Milner is all right, I get on with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German c***, f*** me."
Another video showed appears to show Coote telling his acquaintance that his shocking thoughts on Klopp must not be circulated around.
He remarked: "Just to be clear, that f****** video can't go anywhere, I'm serious." To which the person insisted that it wouldn't be.
You can watch the clip in our video player at the top of the page.
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Coote was indirectly criticised by Klopp last season, having been on VAR duty when Liverpool felt they should have received a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Anfield with replays showing Martin Odegaard handling the ball.
Klopp said of Coote's role: "How can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe, possibly it could be worth the referee having another look?"
And in October 2020, the 42-year-old was the VAR official in the Merseyside derby which saw Virgil van Dijk suffer an ACL injury, which was accidentally inflicted by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The England international escaped any form of punishment, which led Klopp to state VAR officials 'forget the rules'.
Though the reference to Burnley in the leaked video stems from the 1-1 draw in July 2020.
That match was the first time Liverpool had dropped points at Anfield all season.
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Following the full-time whistle, Andy Robertson confronted Coote after he felt his side should have been awarded a penalty.
He fumed: "How’s that not a penalty is a disgrace. How the f*** is that not a penalty? You didn’t see f****** anything.
"You didn’t see anything the whole game apart from f****** booking them in the last minute. F*** me.
"What’s the point in having you in the middle? What’s the point in having you? F*** me. Honestly."
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Coote, who hails from Nottingham, has been a Premier League referee since April 2018.
He is regarded as one of the top match officials in the country, and officiated Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
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