Premier League referee David Coote could face a charge of aggravated misconduct by the FA for referring to Jurgen Klopp’s nationality in his derogatory comments about the then Liverpool manager.
Coote was suspended on Monday by the PGMOL, the body responsible for match refereeing in England, after a leaked video – which appears to be from several years ago – showed him calling Klopp a “German whore” and a “f***”. “You are arrogant.”
The FA confirmed it has launched an investigation into the 42-year-old, who refereed the Reds’ 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, in a statement saying: “We are aware of the matter and are investigating.” he.’
Coote was already facing a PGMOL investigation, but the FA investigation could see him face a harsher penalty for his reference to Klopp’s nationality.
The Times report that FA rules state that an “aggravated offence” includes a reference “whether express or implied, to race and/or color and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality”.
David Coote has been suspended by PGMOL pending the conclusion of an investigation into a leaked video which showed him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League referee had several clashes with the former Reds boss during his time in the top flight.
The outlet highlights a similar case in 2020 involving then-Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, who was banned for one match and fined £50,000 for a video which showed him mocking an Asian man in relation to the Covid outbreak. He was also required to complete an FA educational course.
An independent commission concluded that Alli did not intentionally discriminate against the Asian man in question or intend to be insulting or racially stereotypical. But it was ruled that the video “involves a reference to race and nationality.”
Manchester City midfielder Bernado Silva received the same punishment in November 2019 after comparing his then teammate Benjamin Mendy to a black cartoon character.
The PGMOL confirmed that Coote has been suspended with immediate effect in a statement on Monday. It said: ‘David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will not comment further until the process is complete.
“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.
‘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 supposedly Coote is referring to in the stunning video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley in 2020.
In the match in which Liverpool dropped 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.
Coote has been a Premier League referee since 2018 and had many clashes with Klopp, who left Anfield at the end of last season.