Former Referee David Coote Charged Over Offensive Remarks About Jurgen Klopp

Former Premier League official David Coote has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for making offensive comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online. The leaked footage, which circulated on social media, featured the 42-year-old making derogatory and discriminatory remarks directed at Klopp and Liverpool.

Following the video’s emergence in November 2024, Coote was suspended by the Premier League refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and was officially dismissed a month later after a detailed investigation into his conduct.

The FA has since charged Coote under Rule E3.1, accusing him of behaving improperly and using abusive or insulting language. The charge also specifies that referencing Klopp’s nationality in a derogatory way constitutes an “aggravated” breach of the rules.

Gambling Claims Dropped, But UEFA Ban Remains
Coote has also faced separate allegations involving potential gambling-related misconduct after claims emerged that he had discussed issuing a yellow card prior to a match. However, the FA has cleared him of any wrongdoing on that front, with Coote labelling the accusations “false and defamatory.”

Earlier in February, UEFA issued a ban on Coote from officiating in European competitions until 30 June 2026, following the release of a video showing him sniffing a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024. Coote later acknowledged a past drug problem, which he said he had since addressed through therapy.

In January, Coote publicly came out as gay and spoke openly about the challenges of hiding his sexuality during his refereeing career due to fear of abuse.

Next Steps and Possible Sanctions
Although Coote is no longer actively involved in football, the FA retains the authority to pursue disciplinary action since he was connected to the sport when the video became public. If similar comments were made today while he is unaffiliated with football, the FA would lack jurisdiction.

The case will be handled by an independent regulatory commission, which will determine the outcome. If Coote pleads guilty, the panel will decide an appropriate penalty. If he contests the charge, the commission will evaluate the evidence and reach a verdict before determining any disciplinary action.

Should a fine be imposed, FA rules state that a failure to pay on time could result in a 25% surcharge. Continued non-payment beyond 35 days past the deadline could trigger an automatic suspension from all football-related activity until the debt is cleared.