Premier League referee David Coote ‘could face FA charge’ for calling Jurgen Klopp a ‘German ****’ in leaked video – as governing body confirm their own investigation into the official
Premier League referee David Coote could be charged with serious misconduct by the FA after referring to Jurgen Klopp’s nationality in his disparaging comments about the then Liverpool manager.
Coote was suspended on Monday by the PGMOL, the body responsible for refereeing matches in England, after a leaked video – which appears to be from several years ago – showed him calling Klopp a ‘German ****’ and ‘f** * mentioned. arrogant’.
The FA confirmed it has launched an investigation into the 42-year-old, who refereed the Reds’ 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, in a statement that said: ‘We are aware of the matter and we are investigating the matter . It.’
Coote was already facing an investigation from the PGMOL, but the FA investigation could see him face a harsher punishment for his reference to Klopp’s nationality.
The Times Report those FA Rules provide that an ‘aggravated breach’ includes a reference ‘whether express or implied, to race and/or color and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality’.
David Coote has been suspended by PGMOL pending the conclusion of an investigation into a leaked video in which he made comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp
The referee had a number of clashes with the former Reds boss during his time in the top flight
The outlet highlights a similar case in 2020 involving then-Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, who was suspended for one match and fined £50,000 for a video in which he mocked an Asian man in relation to the Covid- outbreak. He also had to complete an FA educational course.
An independent commission concluded that Alli did not deliberately discriminate against the Asian man in question, nor was he offensive or racially stereotypical. But it was ruled that the video would ‘imply a reference to race and nationality’.
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was given the same punishment in November 2019 after he compared his then teammate Benjamin Mendy to a black cartoon character.
The PGMOL confirmed in a statement on Monday that Coote had been suspended with immediate effect. It said: ‘David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will make no further comment until that process has been completed.”
“Liverpool was s***,” the man alleged to be Coote said in the video. ‘(Klopp is a) ****, absolutely ****. Apart from right-clicking me when I refereed against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then got a bloody punch from me.
“I have no interest in talking to someone who’s damn arrogant. That’s why I try my best not to talk to him. (James) Milner is doing well, I get on with him. You see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But my god, German, fuck me.”
In a second video, the man added, “Just to be clear, that damn last video isn’t going anywhere, seriously.”
The match the man is said to be referring to Coote in the stunning video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw against Burnley in 2020.
In the match that saw Liverpool drop points at home for the first time that season, Andy Robertson was caught on camera angrily confronting Coote in an expletive-laden tirade after being denied a penalty.
Coote has been a Premier League referee since 2018 and had many clashes with Klopp, who left Anfield at the end of last season.