REFEREE DAVID COOTE has been sacked following the emergence of a video where he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed the termination of the 42-year-old Nottinghamshire official’s employment in a statement on Monday afternoon, saying that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.
“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement added.
“David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”
The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on 11 November.
In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “shit”.
He then describes Klopp as a “c**t”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying.
“I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said.
Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c**t”.
The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. That investigation remains ongoing.
The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament.
European football’s governing body Uefa also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.
The FA is also separately investigating an allegation – strenuously denied by Coote – that he discussed the prospect of giving a Leeds player a yellow card with a fan prior to a match in an online conversation. The Sun alleges after Coote booked the player, he messaged the individual back to say: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
The FA said it was investigating the allegation as “a matter of urgency”.
Coote said: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
PGMOL’s investigation did not look at the allegation related to the Leeds yellow card.
Referee union Prospect has been contacted for comment.
He shouldn’t be sacked for what he said about Klopp but there’s very little emphasis being placed on the snorting coke episode and surely cause for dismissal.
@ecrowley ecrowley: as well as the possible yellow card betting incident, if it’s true.
@Joe Kennedy: Exactly, hope it gets investigated but probably won’t now he’s got the bullet.
@ecrowley ecrowley: Yes he should! The job he was in requires impartiality and a calm persona!!
Thoroughly deserved!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: I’m sure we have all complained about people we encounter at work, in probably a similar way to this fella. His crime here is he has poor taste in friends who posted the video.
He’s a gimp though so I’m not sorry to see the back of him. The association should focus more on the coke story though cos the Klopp angle only brings out the mo rons.
His so called mates cost him his job. Sacked for telling the truth.
@Michael Carroll: bit more to it than that according to the above Mike?
Just ridiculous, should have been reprimanded to maintain appearances but honestly can a man not get smashed and jabber on without losing their job
@Dominic Gallagher: His mates are some wxxkers
@Dominic Gallagher: in a word, No
@Mick O’K: he’s right about Kloop thou
@Dessie: Utd would take him in the morning ya clown, whist!
@Dessie: Who is Kloop?
@Dessie: trying to be funny and you make spelling mistakes, good one
@Dessie: Dessie with his usual anti Liverpool contribution. Bit boring at this stage ? I’d say you actually wish your club (haha) had a person like Kloop in charge? You seem to have an opion on all things LFC ! Closet fan id reckon
@colin coady: Jesus pool fans are so sensitive. Yes the great white teeth German was an arrogant cu#t. And Damien Leen no point commenting to me , I made the decision you can’t argue with stupidity and blocked you.
No problem with Liverpool, playing some great football so far.as for some of their so called fans on here no thats a whole different ball game. apologies to the spelling chiefs
@Mick O’K: it’s Christmas Michael take a chill pill and relax.
Very good now sack the rest of them.
@Michael Carroll: will you do the refs job then
@Michael Carroll: And then what ?
@Patrick Brosnan: £70k a year! I’d have a go at it messlf
He wasn’t up to the standard required. He gave a peno to West Ham 6 weeks ago against Man Utd that was never a peno, even after watching it on the replay a few times. Even the West Ham players admitted it was never a peno. The best refs don’t get influenced by the crowd in those situations
Strange world sacked for calling a c u next Tuesday a c u next Tuesday.
Was always gonna be the case. Sure players and managers get fined or banned or saying not even half of that about refs. And they don’t even do it while coked up on a mad one. His position became untenable in the PL as his impartiality was lost. Calls into question every future game he refs.
@ Patrick Brosnan. A match fee of €1200 per match and a salary of anything between eighty and a 150 grand a year depending on experience. I would certainly have a go Patrick.
A very very unlikeable character – karma prevailed
Klopp is arrogant!!?? Kettle calling pot black, comes to mind!! A typical self-important PL gobsh….referee!!