Former referee Christina Unkel has commented on David Coote after controversial comments he made about Jurgen Klopp in a video went viral.
Coote has been suspended by refereeing chiefs after footage, which appears to be from several years ago, showed him calling then Reds boss Klopp a “German whore” and “f***ing arrogant”.
The PGMOL (body responsible for match refereeing in England) has started an investigation and is studying the possibility that it is a deep-fake or that it was created using artificial intelligence.
Coote, 42, has reportedly admitted that it is genuine, according to The mirrorbut he does not remember the content of the entire conversation.
And Unkel, a FIFA-licensed referee who has officiated at club and international level, criticized the 42-year-old’s actions and suggested there is no way the PGMOL could have done anything other than suspend him.
Former referee Christina Unkel commented on David Coote after his suspension
Premier League referee Coote has reportedly admitted that viral footage of him calling Jurgen Klopp a “German whore” in a foul-mouthed tirade about Liverpool is genuine.
The clip appears to be from years ago and the PGMOL confirmed the suspension on Monday
“The severity of the punishment is that you lose your license to officiate,” he said. CBS sports goal. ‘Basically, now you’re off the list, you’ve breached a contract.
‘In this environment, when there are so many of these things, of this type, especially with video evidence of all this, they are not speculation, they are real words.
“There is no way he can continue to arbitrate. Because he is in a position and if you were in a position of having to determine whether the employment continues or not, there is no way he can continue in this position.
“Not only for the organization for the protection of the game but also for the absolute protection of David Coote.”
The PGMOL confirmed the news of Coote’s suspension in a statement on Monday evening.
It said: ‘David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will not comment further until the process is complete.
The shocking video, which went viral on social media, appeared to show Coote looking shabby as he delivered an explicit rant about the Merseyside club.
“Liverpool were shit,” the man Coote allegedly said in the video. ‘(Klopp is a) bastard, absolute bastard. Apart from punching me when I was refereeing against Burnley in the lockdown, he accused me of lying and then punched me.
Coote and former Liverpool boss Klopp had several falling outs over the years.
Unkel insisted the PGMOL had no choice but to suspend Coote following his actions.
‘I have no interest in talking to someone who is fucking arrogant. So I try my best not to talk to him. (James) Milner is fine, I get on well with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my God, you German bastard, fuck me.
In a second video, the man added: “Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously.”
The match the man allegedly Coote is referring to in the video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley in 2020.
In the match, which saw Liverpool drop points for the first time at home that season, Andy Robertson was caught on camera angrily confronting Coote in an expletive-laden rant after he was not awarded a penalty.
‘How come it’s not a shame, it’s a shame?’ The Scot was furious after the game. ‘How the hell is that not a penalty? You didn’t see anything.
“You didn’t see anything the whole game other than screwing up their reserve at the last minute.” Fuck me. What’s the point of having you in the middle? What’s the point of having you? Fuck me. Honestly.’
Coote has been a Premier League referee since 2018 and had many clashes with Klopp, who left Anfield at the end of last season.
Midway through last season, during Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool in December, Klopp vented his fury at Coote and the rest of the referees after his team were denied a penalty despite Martin Odegaard appearing to handle the penalty. ball inside the 18-yard area.
The game the man supposedly Coote is referring to in the video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley in 2020, with Andy Robertson seen facing them at full time.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confronted Coote during a league match in 2022
Chris Kavanagh, who was the match referee, signaled for play to continue and play was not stopped by the referees for a VAR check, with Coote confident that the Norwegian only touched the ball in the act of falling, which he did not. It is considered punishable by the Premier League rules.
“Yes, I’ve seen it,” Klopp fumed after the game. “I’m pretty sure someone will come and explain to me why it wasn’t a handball, but I don’t know how. I’m not saying the referee can see it because I don’t know where he was at the time.”
Referring to Coote’s role in the incident, he added: “But how can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe it’s worth the referee taking another look?”
Howard Webb, director of PGMOL, later admitted that Kavanagh and Coote made a mistake by not awarding a penalty to Liverpool during the 1-1 draw.
