Video footage has surfaced that allegedly shows David Coote engaging in a profane rant about Jurgen Klopp, using inflammatory language to insult the former Liverpool manager.
The 42-year-old referee oversaw Liverpool’s recent win over Aston Villa, where he controversially deemed Leon Bailey’s last-man challenge on Mo Salah not to be a foul.
He also served as the VAR official when Everton’s Jordan Pickford caused an ACL injury to Virgil van Dijk in October 2020, without facing any punishment—two instances among several criticized decisions in Liverpool games now potentially under new scrutiny.
Coote’s alleged tirade about Klopp
Sources from Empire of the Kop obtained widely circulated video clips appearing to show Coote responding to a friend’s question about Liverpool’s performance with, “Liverpool were s**t.”
When asked about Klopp, Coote reportedly continued, using explicit language to insult the manager, mentioning incidents that occurred while officiating a match against Burnley during lockdown.
Another person in the video is heard expressing disdain for Klopp, Liverpool, and “Scousers” in general. A follow-up clip shows a man—allegedly Coote—asking for the footage not to be shared, a request that was evidently ignored despite warnings from a colleague not to “ruin his career.”
While the timing and context of the recording remain unclear, as well as whether the statements reflect Coote’s true views or were made in jest, some speculate the video could have been AI-generated, though this remains unconfirmed.
Regardless of intent, if authentic, such remarks from a Premier League referee could damage perceptions of his impartiality.
PGMOL investigation into David Coote
Ben Jacobs reported that PGMOL is investigating the video. An update from the officiating body confirms that Coote, the Nottinghamshire referee, has been suspended pending the investigation’s outcome.
Further updates on the matter will be provided as the story develops.
