The refereeing body PGMOL has suspended Referee David Coote, effective immediately, pending a full investigation. This decision follows the circulation of an unverified video on social media allegedly showing Coote speaking disparagingly about Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
The video, which has yet to be authenticated by the BBC, appears to reference a Premier League match Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. In it, a man, purported to be Coote, describes Klopp as "arrogant" and recounts criticism from Klopp after the match for not awarding fouls in Liverpool's favor. The clip, which lasts just over a minute, shows the man in conversation with another person, though the video's origin remains unclear.
Coote, 42, one of the Premier League's seasoned referees, officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. While Liverpool is aware of the video's existence, the club has refrained from commenting.
EFL Chairman Rick Parry told BBC Sport on Monday that PGMOL acted swiftly, suspending Coote and promising a thorough investigation. PGMOL has stated it will withhold further comments until the investigation concludes.
Coote, a registered Notts County supporter from Nottingham, is prohibited from officiating matches involving County or Nottingham Forest.
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