Former Premier League referee David Coote has been handed an eight-week suspension by the FA and should attend a compulsory face-to-face training programme over feedback he made about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Coote was charged in June after a video – which appeared to indicate Coote making derogatory feedback about Liverpool and their former supervisor Klopp – was broadly circulated on social media in November 2024.
The video was unverified however within the FA investigation, Coote confirmed the video had been taken in his lounge in June 2020, alongside a good friend he knew from enjoying cricket.
Throughout the investigation, run by an unbiased fee, Coote mentioned his phrases didn’t replicate his true feeling in direction of Klopp, for whom he has a “deep professional respect”. Coote has apologised to Klopp personally, in addition to the FA, the Skilled Recreation Match Officers (PGMOL) and the broader soccer neighborhood.
The PGMOL confirmed the termination of Coote’s employment in December, saying {that a} thorough investigation concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.
Coote was charged with FA Rule E3.1 the place he was alleged to have acted “improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words” about Klopp. The previous official admitted the cost.
Nevertheless, Coote was cleared of allegations of playing misconduct. He was being investigated by the FA for a reported incident in Leeds’ match towards West Brom in October 2019.
Reviews in November urged Coote booked then-Leeds participant Ezgjan Alioski, then messaged a good friend saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.” Coote had at all times strenuously denied the allegation.
In February, Coote was banned by UEFA till June 30 2026 after a special video emerged of him snorting a white powder by way of a financial institution notice whereas in Germany for final summer time’s Euros.
In January, Coote got here out as homosexual and mentioned {that a} lifelong battle to cover his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp.
In an interview with The Solar, Coote mentioned: “I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn’t come out to my friends until I was 25.
“My sexuality is not the one cause that led me to be in that place. However I am not telling an genuine story if I do not say that I am homosexual and that I’ve had actual struggles coping with hiding that.
“I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being.
“That is led me to an entire course of behaviours.”
He added: “I’ve had points round my shallowness – and that pertains to my sexuality. I am homosexual and I’ve struggled with feeling happy with being ‘me’ over an extended time frame.
“I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”
Timeline: What led to Coote’s dismissal?
Saturday November 9 2024: Coote referees Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa.
Monday November 11: An unverified video of Coote making derogatory feedback about Liverpool and their former supervisor Jurgen Klopp circulates on social media.
Monday November 11: PGMOL suspends Coote and launches an investigation.
Tuesday November 12: FA begins personal investigation into Coote video.
Tuesday November 12: Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb says on Sky Sports activities’ Match Officers Mic’d Up that PGMOL is taking the incident “very seriously”.
Thursday November 14: PGMOL conscious of recent video showing to indicate Coote snorting a white powder whereas reportedly working at Euro 2024.
Wednesday November 27: FA investigating allegations Coote mentioned giving a yellow card earlier than a sport as reported by The Solar. Coote refutes allegations.
Monday December 9: Coote sacked by PGMOL.
Friday February 28: UEFA bans Coote till June 2026.
Tuesday June 17: Coote charged by FA over Klopp feedback however no prices introduced over playing misconduct.
Tuesday August 12: Coote is handed an eight-week suspension by the FA and should attend a compulsory face-to-face training programme.
