Premier League Referee Suspended Over Rude Klopp Comments

Premier League referee, David Coote has been suspended following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly shows him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp.

The refereeing body, PGMOL, announced that the suspension is effective immediately, pending a full investigation.

The widely shared video has not been verified, and its filming date and authenticity remain unclear. Coote, 42, who officiated Liverpool’s recent 2-0 win against Aston Villa, is among the Premier League’s most experienced referees, having served in top-flight matches since 2018.

The video seemingly refers to a Liverpool vs. Burnley match Coote officiated in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp criticized Coote after that match, accusing him of not penalizing challenges against Liverpool players.

At the time, Liverpool had already clinched the Premier League title and aimed to secure an unbeaten home record, aiming for 100 points to match Manchester City’s 2017-18 record.

In the July 2020 match, Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson scored first, but Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez equalized, leading to a heated exchange between Klopp and Coote post-game. Klopp expressed frustration with Coote’s officiating, saying the referee allowed numerous challenges, which made defending dangerous situations harder. Liverpool subsequently lost their next game to Arsenal, ending their 100-point ambition.

Referees must declare their club affiliations to PGMOL; Coote, a Notts County fan from Nottingham, is ineligible to officiate County or Nottingham Forest games. PGMOL has stated it will not comment further until the investigation concludes.