Premier League referee Coote suspended pending investigation over alleged comments against Liverpool and Klopp
LONDON: The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has suspended Premier League referee David Coote following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly shows him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The video, which has not been verified by news agencies, purportedly captures Coote expressing negative remarks about both the club and Klopp, who left Liverpool in May.
PGMOL, the referees’ governing body, announced on Monday that Coote was suspended “with immediate effect” pending a full investigation, stating that it would not provide further comments until the investigation concludes. Liverpool, aware of the video circulating online, declined to comment due to the ongoing PGMOL inquiry.
The incident has raised questions regarding referee conduct and potential biases, adding further scrutiny to officiating in English football. Coote, 42, has been a Premier League match official since 2018 and most recently refereed Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.(Reuters)
