Former Premier League referee, David Coote has been given an eight-week suspension and ordered to attend an education programme after admitting to making abusive remarks about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a leaked video.
The Football Association (FA) confirmed on Thursday that Coote’s comments, which surfaced on social media last November, constituted an “aggravated breach” of FA rule E3.1 due to a reference to Klopp’s nationality.
In the video, filmed in July 2020, Coote described his experience as fourth official at a Liverpool match as “s—”, called Klopp a “German c—”, and branded him “f—— arrogant.”
Suspension Follows PGMOL Dismissal
The 42-year-old from Nottinghamshire was suspended in November 2024 after the footage emerged, before being sacked in December by the Premier League referees’ body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
PGMOL said at the time that his position had become “untenable.”
David Coote Accepts Charge but Denies Gambling Misconduct
Coote was charged by the FA in June and later admitted to the misconduct. The FA also confirmed that he would face no further action over separate allegations of gambling misconduct, which he had “strenuously denied.”
He had previously described the gambling allegations as “false and defamatory” and was cleared after a full investigation.
UEFA Ban and White Powder Video
In February, UEFA banned Coote from officiating in European competition until June 30, 2026 after a separate incident at Euro 2024.
A video emerged showing Coote snorting a white powder through a banknote while on duty in Germany.
Personal Struggles and Public Admission
In January, Coote revealed to that he is gay, saying he had hidden his sexuality during his career due to fear of abuse.
He admitted that the lifelong struggle to hide his identity contributed both to the Klopp rant and his drug use.
“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay and that I’ve had real struggles with hiding that,” Coote said.
“I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well, a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”
Coote Expresses Shame and Regret
In his formal response to the FA’s charge, published in the regulatory commission’s written reasons, Coote accepted that his remarks about Klopp were:
“Crass, inappropriate and unworthy of the role that he held within the game.”
He asked the commission to note that his absence from the hearing was not to avoid accountability, but due to his mental state.
Coote said the remarks did not reflect his true view of Klopp, for whom he had always had “deep professional respect.”
The commission reported:
“DC [Coote] stated that he felt an immense sense of shame. He had lost a career that formed the very core of his identity.”
“He had lost all his income and the media attention had deepened his sense of humiliation and despair.
“He was trying to piece his life back together, from a place of near total collapse.”
What the Future Holds for David Coote
Coote is currently not involved in football, but because he was active at the time the comments became public, the FA retained jurisdiction.
The independent regulatory commission has imposed the eight-week ban and ordered him to attend an FA education programme.
If he were to make similar comments now, the FA would have no power to sanction him as he is no longer working within the game.
Under FA disciplinary rules, failure to comply with sanctions, such as non-payment of a fine could lead to an automatic 25% increase in the amount due and eventual suspension from all football activity until the fine is paid.
