The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has suspended Premier League referee David Coote with immediate effect, following the circulation of a controversial video on social media.
The video, which appeared on the platform X, shows Coote making derogatory remarks about Jürgen Klopp, the former manager of Liverpool, regarding an incident between them in the past.
Reports suggest the incident in question took place during a Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. After the match, Klopp had openly criticized Coote for failing to penalize what he believed were fouls on his players during the game.
PGMOL, in a brief statement, confirmed that Coote’s suspension is effective immediately, with a full investigation into the matter set to follow. The governing body emphasized that they would not be providing further details until the investigation concludes.
In light of the suspension, speculation about Coote’s affiliations has resurfaced. Coote, a Nottingham native, is known to be a supporter of Notts County, which raises questions about his impartiality, as he is prohibited from officiating matches involving either Notts County or Nottingham Forest.
This is not the first time Coote has been involved in a high-profile controversy related to Liverpool. In December 2023, while serving as the VAR official during a match between Arsenal and Liverpool, Coote did not instruct the on-field referee, Chris Kavanagh, to review a potential handball by Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard in the penalty area.
Another significant incident occurred in October 2020 during the Merseyside derby, when Coote was also serving as the VAR. He failed to intervene after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s reckless challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, which resulted in the Dutch defender rupturing his ACL and being sidelined for nine months.
David Coote, 42, has been officiating Premier League matches since 2018. His most recent match as a referee was Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa last Saturday.
PGMOL has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation, and Coote’s future in the Premier League now hangs in the balance.