The Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after video footage emerged of him calling Jürgen Klopp a “German cunt” and Liverpool “shit”. The video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, appears to date from the 2020-21 season. In the clip, Coote is asked by a friend for his opinion of Klopp, the then Liverpool manager, and says: “Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying and then just had a right fucking pop at me. I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … My God, German cunt, fuck me.”
The derogatory remark about Liverpool refers to the team’s performance in a game, earlier that day according to the video, at which Coote had been the fourth official. The friend, who appears to be recording the conversation on his phone in a sparsely decorated sitting room, goes on to clarify what he feels to be the takeaway from the conversation: “Long story short: Jürgen Klopp’s a cunt, Liverpool are all fucking bellends and we hate scousers.”
Coote and his friend also imply that they are breaching Covid regulations in sitting almost shoulder to shoulder, Coote saying sarcastically: “We’re two metres apart.”
In a separate video, Coote appears to ask those present not to share the original recording. “Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously,” he says. The friend says: “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad.”
Controversy Surrounding Coote's Refereeing
The video appears to show a scene from the 2020-21 season, suggesting that Coote's comments stem from his experiences as a referee in the Premier League. Coote has been a referee in the Premier League since 2018 and has been involved in a number of controversial decisions involving Liverpool. In the initial video Coote holds up a still which appears to show him on 4 October 2020 on the touchline with Klopp and James Milner, during Liverpool’s 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa. In Liverpool’s following game Coote was the video assistant referee when a challenge by the Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk that left the Liverpool defender with an anterior cruciate ligament injury went unpunished.
Coote also drew the ire of Klopp as the VAR for the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Arsenal last December after an apparent handball in the box by Martin Ødegaard did not lead to a penalty. Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, later said it should have resulted in a spot-kick.
Impact on Coote's Career
The video has sparked outrage among football fans and has led to calls for Coote to be dismissed from his position as a Premier League referee. The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) has suspended Coote with immediate effect pending a full investigation. It is understood Liverpool feel it would be inappropriate to comment with an investigation under way.
The website Transfermarkt lists Coote as having refereed eight Liverpool games, seven while Klopp was there, starting with the Burnley match. Liverpool have won five, drawn one and lost two – against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in December 2022 and Brighton in the FA Cup the following month. Although Klopp felt the absence of VAR affected Liverpool’s defeat by City he did not criticise Coote and he did not question the refereeing after the Brighton game. Brighton felt they were on the wrong end of two decisions towards the end that might have led to red cards before their late winner.
The Future of David Coote
The incident has raised serious questions about Coote's future as a Premier League referee. If the video is verified as being genuine, Coote's career as a top-flight official could be over. The PGMOL has stated that it will be making no further comment until the investigation is complete. This incident has shone a light on the often-overlooked world of refereeing and the pressures faced by those who officiate at the highest level. It remains to be seen what the outcome of the investigation will be, but the incident has already had a significant impact on Coote's career. The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the treatment of referees and the need for greater protection for them. While Coote’s future is uncertain, his comments have highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability in the world of football. The incident has also underlined the importance of respect for all those involved in the beautiful game.
