Premier League referee Coote suspended over alleged anti-Liverpool remarks

Premier League referee David Coote has been temporarily suspended following the release of a video allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool FC and its former manager, Jürgen Klopp, according to BBC reports on Monday.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed that Coote’s suspension took “immediate effect” and will remain in place pending the outcome of a full investigation.

Coote, who joined the Premier League’s roster of referees in 2018, recently officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.

The video in question, reportedly unverified, mentions a Liverpool-Burnley match from July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Klopp criticized Coote’s officiating in that game, citing a lack of protection for Liverpool players from fouls.

While PGMOL has refrained from further statements until the investigation concludes, News360 Nigeria noted that the authenticity and timing of the video remain unclear.

Meanwhile, transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano also reported the development on his X page, writing, “Official: PL referee David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will make no further comment until that process is complete.”