The Football Association is investigating after a video surfaced on social media that appears to show Premier League referee David Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager, Jürgen Klopp.
The refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), announced on Monday that Coote, 42, has been suspended pending a full investigation. The FA is also reviewing Coote’s remarks, focusing particularly on whether his comments about Klopp’s nationality constitute an aggravated breach of misconduct rules.
“We are aware of the matter and are investigating it,” an FA spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
The video clip allegedly shows Coote, who officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, referring to Klopp as “arrogant” and using offensive language.
Retired referee Mike Dean, now a television pundit, believes the incident could have serious repercussions for referees across English football. Speaking to Sky Sports, Dean, 56, stated: “Referees must avoid such situations at all costs. You can speak privately amongst friends and colleagues, but you can’t allow someone to record it and then hope it remains hidden.”
The video references a match Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Liverpool had already won the league. Klopp criticised Coote’s leniency in handling Burnley’s challenges.
Klopp, who departed Liverpool at the end of last season after nearly nine years at Anfield, had previously been critical of Coote regarding a decision in a match against Arsenal last season, when Martin Odegaard’s hand made contact with the ball. Coote, as VAR, did not recommend an on-field review for the incident.
Coote was also VAR for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 2020, during which Everton’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, injured Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, ending his season. Pickford was not dismissed, nor did he face retrospective action, as FA rules only allow for this if an incident goes unnoticed both by the on-field referee and during a VAR review.