PGMOL Suspend David Coote; Probe Viral NSFW Video of EPL Ref Dissing Klopp, Liverpool
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have suspended English referee David Coote and are looking into a video that purportedly shows Coote making derogatory remarks toward former Liverpool manager Jรผrgen Klopp.
The person identified as Coote from the video said that Liverpool was "s--t" when asked about the club, and he described Klopp as a "c--t" and "f--king arrogant," per the Daily Mail's Lewis Steele.
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It's unclear when the video was filmed, but it appears to be from when Klopp was still the Liverpool manager. Coote used the present tense when he said, "I do my best not to speak to him," and also praised midfielder James Milner, who left Liverpool when his contract expired after the 2022-23 season.
The comments sparked an instant reaction, particularly among Reds supporters, and a suspension was inevitable.
Even if Coote never displayed any explicit bias against Liverpool in past matches, his credibility has been undermined in a major way. It took no time before fans examined close officiating decisions that went against Liverpool.
At the very least, it's hard to see how Coote could work another Liverpool match moving forward if the video is verified, and PGMOL could decide more serious measures are required.
Keith Hackett, a former top-level referee who once led PGMOL, told BBC Sport's Chris Osborne in 2016 the organization attempts to vet any potential conflicts of interest.
"At the beginning of every season the referees' background information is audited," he said. "They complete a form that includes who they support, the history of if they've played the game and with the addresses where they are residing.
"That gives you a picture that comes into use when you're appointing. It's about ensuring, for example, you wouldn't appoint a Sheffield-based ref for a Sheffield team."
