Former Premier League referee David Coote has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) for comments made about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a leaked video that circulated on social media.
The 42-year-old, who was suspended in November 2024 following the emergence of the clip, was seen making derogatory remarks about Klopp and the Liverpool football club.
Coote’s comments, which also referenced Klopp’s nationality, prompted widespread criticism and triggered a disciplinary review by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body for referees in English professional football.
Following a thorough investigation, Coote was dismissed by PGMOL in December 2024. The FA has now charged him under Rule E3.1, alleging that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and/or insulting language.
The inclusion of Klopp’s nationality in the remarks led the FA to categorize the breach as “aggravated.”
Despite the charge, Coote has been cleared of separate allegations involving gambling misconduct.
It had been claimed that he discussed issuing a yellow card to a player before a match, but Coote denied the accusation, calling it “false and defamatory.” The FA found no evidence to support the gambling claims.
In a separate ruling earlier this year, UEFA banned Coote from officiating in European competition until June 30, 2026, further compounding his fall from grace.
Coote, who hails from Nottinghamshire, had been a regular fixture in Premier League matches prior to the scandal.
The FA’s proceedings are ongoing, with potential disciplinary sanctions yet to be confirmed.
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