Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended following the release of a video allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool Football Club and former manager Jürgen Klopp. This incident, reported by the BBC, has prompted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to initiate an immediate suspension of Coote pending a full investigation.
Coote, a prominent Premier League referee since 2018, recently officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. His career has now come under scrutiny as the video, which has circulated widely online, reportedly references an earlier fixture he officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020—a game that ended in a 1-1 draw and where Klopp was vocal in his criticism of Coote for allegedly not protecting Liverpool players from fouls.
PGMOL has stated that it will refrain from making further comments until the investigation is concluded. The organization expressed that Coote’s suspension is in effect as they assess the claims in question.
Transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano also highlighted the development on social media, confirming, “Official: PL referee David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will make no further comment until that process is complete.”
This incident adds another layer of complexity to officiating controversies within the Premier League, drawing attention to the conduct and professionalism expected of referees at the highest level.
