Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended indefinitely after a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The video, which has since been removed, reportedly shows Coote calling Klopp “arrogant” and using offensive language.
Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for refereeing in the Premier League, released a statement confirming Coote’s suspension.
“David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation,” the statement read. “PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
The suspension comes as a major blow to Coote, who has been a Premier League referee since 2018. He has officiated over 100 Premier League matches and has also been involved in international competitions.
The incident has sparked outrage among Liverpool fans and the wider football community. Many have called for Coote to be banned from refereeing altogether, while others have defended him, claiming that the video may have been taken out of context.
The PGMOL is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. It is unclear at this stage what the outcome of the investigation will be, but it is possible that Coote could face further disciplinary action.
