Former Premier League referee David Coote has been handed an eight-week ban and ordered to complete a face-to-face education programme after making offensive comments about Jürgen Klopp in a private video that later went viral on social media.
The incident dates back to around July 2020, when Coote was filmed in two short videos — apparently recorded on a mobile phone — giving his personal opinion on Liverpool and Klopp, the club’s then-manager.
In the footage, he used an expletive to describe Liverpool and a derogatory term for Klopp, accusing the German coach of being “arrogant” and claiming Klopp had “accused me of lying” after a match.
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The Football Association charged Coote with acting “in an improper manner” and using “abusive and/or insulting words,” noting the breach was aggravated due to a reference — direct or implied — to nationality. Coote admitted to the charge.
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Following an investigation by English football’s refereeing body, Coote was initially suspended and later dismissed from his role in December, with his position deemed “untenable.” On Tuesday, an independent regulatory commission confirmed the fresh sanctions, which include the ban and mandatory education programme.
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about professionalism and impartiality among match officials, especially in an era where private comments can quickly become public through social media.
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