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Video from David Coote: Premier League referee banned for foul-mouthed tirades against Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp

Referee David Coote has been suspended while the Premier League referees panel investigates a video which appears to show the referee in an extraordinary tirade calling former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp “bloody arrogant” and a “German idiot”.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show Coote, 42, talking to an unidentified man who asked him what he thought about an unspecified Liverpool game.

“Liverpool was shit,” replies the man who appears to be Coote.

When asked what he thought of Klopp, he replied: “C***. Absolute nonsense,” before adding: “Apart from the fact that he really pissed me off when I let him play against Burnley in lockdown, he then accused me of lying and then just really pissed me off. And I have no interest in talking to someone who is arrogant as hell. That's why I do my best not to talk to him. [James] Milner is fine.”

In a second video, Coote appears to add: “Just to be clear, this final f***ing video can’t go anywhere. Seriously.”

The Independent could not check the content of the video.

The refereeing body, the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), said in a statement: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending the completion of a full investigation. PGMOL will have no further comment until this process is complete.”

Klopp speaks to Coote after a Premier League game between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield in July 2020

Klopp speaks to Coote after a Premier League game between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield in July 2020 (Pool 2020)
Jürgen Klopp and Andrew Robertson confront David Coote

Jürgen Klopp and Andrew Robertson confront David Coote (Pool 2020)

Coote was the referee in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday evening. It is currently unclear whether the video is real and if so, when it was recorded.

In the video, Coote appears to be referring to a game between Liverpool and Burnley in the 2020/21 season – a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Coote was also the VAR in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Arsenal last December, in Klopp's final season at Anfield, when the Reds were controversially denied a penalty after Martin Odegaard touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area. Howard Webb, the head of the PGMOL, admitted referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Coote were wrong not to award a penalty.

Klopp speaks to Coote on the touchline at Anfield during the game against Aston Villa in July 2020

Klopp speaks to Coote on the touchline at Anfield during the game against Aston Villa in July 2020 (Pool 2020)

Coote began refereeing as a teenager in Nottinghamshire and was promoted to the Premier League in 2018. Since then he has been a regular official in the top flight of English football and also took charge of the Carabao Cup final at Wembley last year as Manchester United won 2-0 against Newcastle.

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