English referee David Coote has been suspended by the FA for eight weeks and ordered to attend an education course after a video resurfaced of him insulting Jurgen Klopp with offensive, nationality-based remarks.
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English referee David Coote, who was expelled from the Premier League after insulting then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has now been formally sanctioned by the English Football Association (FA).
The governing body confirmed on Tuesday that Coote will serve an eight-week suspension from all football-related activities under its jurisdiction and must also attend an education course addressing the use of discriminatory and offensive language in sport.
The FA’s disciplinary panel described the case as one of “serious misconduct,” stressing that the incident had “the potential to cause significant reputational damage to English refereeing” at both the domestic and international level. The punishment comes on top of a separate and much heavier sanction handed down by UEFA in February this year, which saw Coote banned from officiating in European competitions until June 30, 2026.
The controversy surrounding Coote erupted after a video, recorded in July 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, resurfaced online earlier this year. In the footage, Coote is seen making disparaging remarks about Klopp, calling him “arrogant” and a “German bastard.” He went on to explain that his dislike for the German coach stemmed from an incident in which Klopp allegedly accused him of lying following a match in which Coote was part of the officiating team. The exact fixture in question has not been publicly confirmed, but reports suggest it was a high-profile Premier League game involving Liverpool in which contentious refereeing decisions were heavily scrutinised.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body reacted swiftly after the clip went viral, concluding that Coote’s comments amounted to a breach of “basic rules of conduct” and that they had “brought the game and UEFA into disrepute.” UEFA further noted that the language used contained a nationality-based slur, which under its regulations constitutes an aggravated form of misconduct. The decision to suspend him until 2026 effectively ended Coote’s career as an international referee.
The scandal deepened when a second video emerged, apparently filmed during UEFA Euro 2024, in which Coote appears to be sniffing a white powder. While the authenticity and context of this footage have not been officially verified, UEFA confirmed it had opened a separate investigation into the matter. If proven true, this could lead to further sanctions or a lifetime ban from football-related roles.
Domestically, Coote had already been removed from the Premier League refereeing roster in December 2024, a decision that at the time was not fully explained by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees in England’s top tiers. Sources have since indicated that the initial dismissal was related to “conduct concerns” rather than specific on-pitch performances, although his refereeing style had also attracted criticism from managers and fans over the years for perceived inconsistency in decision-making.
The FA’s written ruling on the case stated that Coote’s behaviour was “improper and unacceptable for someone holding a position of trust within the game” and emphasised that the inclusion of “express or implied” references to nationality in his insults constituted an aggravating factor in determining the severity of the punishment. The mandatory education course will focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) training, with particular emphasis on language and behaviour standards for match officials.
David Coote, now 42, began his refereeing career in the lower leagues before being promoted to the Select Group of Premier League referees in 2018. He officiated in several high-profile matches, including FA Cup and League Cup fixtures, but also faced a number of controversies, such as criticism for his handling of a Manchester United vs. Chelsea match in February 2020 and the controversial VAR decision in the Merseyside derby later that year.
While neither Coote nor his representatives have issued a public statement since the FA’s decision, the fallout from the case has sparked debate within the football community about the pressures faced by referees, the limits of their private conduct, and the scrutiny that comes with the profession. Critics argue that such incidents undermine public trust in officiating impartiality, while others point out that referees are human and entitled to personal opinions though those opinions must be expressed in a way that does not breach professional codes of conduct.
For Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season, the incident is unlikely to have a lasting personal impact, but it has reignited discussions about tensions between managers and referees in the Premier League. For the FA and UEFA, the case stands as a warning that behaviour deemed discriminatory or disrespectful will be met with decisive and severe punishment, regardless of a referee’s seniority or past service.
With his Premier League and UEFA career in ruins, it remains unclear whether Coote will attempt to continue in officiating at lower levels once his suspension ends, or if he will retire from the game entirely. What is certain is that the events of 2024 and 2025 have marked one of the most dramatic falls from grace in recent refereeing history.
Updated: 03:14, 12 Aug 2025
