Former Premier League referee David Coote has been slapped with an eight-week suspension by the Football Association (FA) for making offensive comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on social media.
The FA found Coote guilty of an “aggravated breach” of Rule E3.2, specifically due to a remark referencing Klopp’s nationality in a video recorded around July 2020. The footage surfaced online in November 2024, prompting a swift investigation. Coote accepted the charge and showed “deep remorse,” calling his comments “crass and inappropriate.”
As part of his punishment, the 42-year-old must also complete a mandatory in-person education programme.
Coote had already been suspended in November 2024 following the leak, and was formally dismissed the following month by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)—the body in charge of referees in English football.
This latest FA sanction is not his only controversy. In February 2025, UEFA banned Coote from officiating any European matches until June 30, 2026, after a separate video showed him allegedly sniffing a white powder during his duties at Euro 2024.
In January 2025, Coote publicly came out as gay, sharing that he had kept his sexuality hidden during his officiating career out of fear of abuse and discrimination.
He did not attend the FA disciplinary hearing, but stated that he believed the comments made in the Klopp video were shared in a private context. He acknowledged that the leaked footage—recorded not long after the first COVID-19 lockdown—was likely to cause offense and harm his reputation.
In June 2025, Coote was cleared of separate allegations involving gambling misconduct, which claimed he had discussed a yellow card decision prior to a match.
Despite his apologies and explanations, the fallout from these multiple incidents has effectively ended Coote’s refereeing career at the top level.
Source: theghanareport
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