Referee David Coote suspended following Klopp remarks

Referee David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation after a video was posted on social media appearing to show him using highly offensive language about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

It is unclear when the video was made or how it came into circulation, but in it Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”.

He then uses an offensive term to describe Klopp and, asked why he felt that way about the German, Coote says he had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and “accused me of lying”.

“I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote says.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said in a statement: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”