English soccer referees’ body PGMOL has suspended Premier League referee David Coote on Monday pending a full investigation after a video circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and former manager Juergen Klopp.
The video allegedly shows Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and Klopp, who left Anfield in May. The video has not been verified by Reuters, it is unclear when it was filmed or its authenticity.
“David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete,” PGMOL told Reuters.
Liverpool did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.
Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday and has been a match official in the Premier League since 2018.
The video in question seems to refer to a Premier League game that Coote refereed between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Klopp publicly criticised Coote after the match, accusing him of not penalising tackles made on Liverpool’s players.
