Premier League Referee David Coote Suspended Following Alleged Anti-Klopp Comments

Premier League referee David Coote has been indefinitely suspended after video footage surfaced on social media allegedly showing him making critical comments about Liverpool FC and former manager Jürgen Klopp. The incident has led to an investigation by the English Football Association (FA), and Coote has been sidelined from officiating duties until further notice.

The controversy erupted after two clips were posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), featuring Coote in casual conversation with an unidentified person. In the videos, Coote appears to make negative comments about Liverpool and Klopp, sparking outrage among fans and prompting calls for accountability from the officiating community.

The FA confirmed its awareness of the matter and stated it is actively investigating the situation. Coote, 42, will remain off-duty, excluded from both on-field refereeing and video assistant referee (VAR) roles, as the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)—the refereeing body for English football—awaits the investigation’s outcome.

Coote, a Premier League referee since 2018, has been a regular presence in top-flight games and officiated high-profile matches, including the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle United. He was also a FIFA-listed referee from 2020 to 2022.

PGMOL has declined to provide further comments until the FA concludes its investigation.