Judgement passed on Premier League Referee David Coote for comments against Jurgen Klopp

David Coote, Premier League referee, has had his contract terminated by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after an investigation found he had breached conduct rules.

The investigation followed a video that surfaced, showing Coote making offensive comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. In the video, which appears to be from a game in the 2019/20 season between Liverpool and Burnley, Coote describes an argument he had with Klopp during the match while talking with friends. Coote used inappropriate language to criticize Klopp, calling him “arrogant” and using offensive terms.

Following the release of the video, Coote was suspended by the PGMOL on November 11, and an investigation was launched. The result of this inquiry was the termination of his contract for serious misconduct.

A statement from PGMOL confirmed the decision: “After a thorough investigation, David Coote’s employment has been terminated with immediate effect. His actions were found to breach his contract and his position was deemed untenable.”

PGMOL also expressed their commitment to supporting Coote’s welfare moving forward. However, Coote is still under investigation by the FA, as his comments about Klopp’s nationality could be seen as discriminatory, which might lead to further sanctions.