Former Premier League referee David Coote has been sanctioned and handed an eight-week ban by the Football Association over comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a viral video from last year.
Coote was dismissed by the English referees’ body, PGMOL, after a video recorded in July 2020 surfaced on social media, allegedly showing him making abusive remarks about Klopp. Following a full investigation, his position was deemed untenable.
The 43-year-old was charged by the FA in June, and an independent Regulatory Commission has now imposed an eight-week suspension and ordered him to complete a mandatory face-to-face education programme. Coote admitted to the charge.
“It was alleged that, contrary to FA Rule E3.1, the referee acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words about Jürgen Klopp in a video recorded around July 2020, which appeared on social media in November 2024,” the FA said in a statement.
“It was also alleged that his actions constitute an ‘Aggravated Breach’, as defined in FA Rule E3.2, due to a reference whether express or implied to nationality.”
UEFA also announced that Coote has been banned from participating in any UEFA refereeing activity until June 2026. Coote has since issued an apology for his actions.
