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DAVID COOTE has been booted off Uefa’s match list as the fallout grows from his astonishing video rant at Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League ref faces the sack after being captured on film calling the former Liverpool boss a “German c***” among other things.
David Coote admitted the viral video of him slamming Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool is authenticX
Reuters
AlamyHe was immediately suspended by his bosses at the PGMOL and now Europe’s governing body are taking similarly strong action.
Coote is a VAR specialist for Uefa and was involved in Champions League action only last week when Dutch side PSV Eindhoven beat Girona 4-0 on November 4.
Coote was down to work at one of Uefa’s Nations League games taking place during this current international round of fixtures.
But he has now been removed.
Europe’s refereeing chiefs have followed their English counterparts and Coote will not be appointed to any Uefa matches for the foreseeable future.
The PGMOL have launched an investigation into the sensational footage which emerged online on Monday afternoon.
Coote is seen sitting with a male friend also labelling Klopp an “arrogant c***”.
The 42-year-old has not denied the authenticity of the footage but says he “cannot recall” recording the footage which is several years old.
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He goes on to dismiss Liverpool as ‘s***’ and says he had “no interest in speaking to somebody as f****** arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him. My God… German c***. F*** me.”
Coote has history with ex-Liverpool boss Klopp.
They clashed after Burnley drew at Anfield in July 2020 when the football season was extended due to Covid.
Coote was criticised as being too lenient.
Klopp said at the time: “The referee let lots of challenges go.”
Nottinghamshire official Coote’s career faces ruin as his comments about Liverpool and Klopp will be viewed as evidence that he had an axe to grind with the Anfield club.
Coote, a Prem ref since 2018, has been involved in a number of controversies involving Liverpool and their title rivals as both a referee and VAR over recent seasons.
That includes a Marcus Rashford goal way back in 2019 which saw Divock Origi seemingly fouled in the build-up – but VAR Coote did not intervene.
He was also at Stockley Park when Jordan Pickford crunched Virgil van Dijk, rupturing the Liverpool defender’s ACL – but again Coote did not step in as the Reds did not even get a penalty.
And he was the VAR when he denied Klopp’s side a penalty last season despite a clear handball from Martin Odegaard at Anfield.
A PGMOL statement on Monday said: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.
“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
ReutersShocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
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