Former referee tells David Coote ‘there is no method you possibly can proceed’ – after video leak the place he appeared to name Jurgen Klopp a ‘German ****’ and ‘f***ing conceited’

Former referee Christina Unkel has commented on David Coote after controversial remarks he made about Jurgen Klopp in a video went viral.

Coote has been suspended by Referees’ chiefs after footage – which appears to be from several years ago – showed him calling then-Reds boss Klopp a ‘German ****’ and ‘f***ing arrogant’.

The PGMOL (the body responsible for refereeing games in England) has launched an investigation and is looking into the possibility that it is a deep-fake or made using artificial intelligence.

Coote, 42, has now reportedly admitted it is genuine, as per The Mirror, but does not recall the contents of the entire conversation.

And, Unkel, a FIFA-licensed referee who has officiated at club and international level, has hit out at the 42-year-old’s actions and suggested there is no way the PGMOL could have done anything else but suspend him.

Former referee Christina Unkel has commented on David Coote after he was suspended

Premier League referee Coote has reportedly admitted that viral footage of him calling Jurgen Klopp a ‘German ****’ in a foul-mouthed tirade about Liverpool is genuine 

The clip appears to be from years ago and the PGMOL confirmed the suspension on Monday

‘The severity of the punishment is you lose your licence to officiate,’ she told CBS Sports Golazo. ‘Basically, you are now off the roster, you have breached a contract. 

‘In this environment when there’s so many of these things, these types, especially with video evidence of this much, it’s not speculation, it’s actual words. 

‘There’s no way he can continue officiating. From being in a position and if you were in a position of having to determine whether or not the employment continues, there’s no way he can continue this position.

‘Not only for the organisation for the protection of the game but also for the downright protection of David Coote as well.’

The PGMOL confirmed news of Coote’s suspension a statement on Monday evening. 

It read: ‘David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.’

The astonishing video, which went viral on social media, appeared to show Coote looking worse for wear as he delivered an explicit rant about the Merseyside club.

‘Liverpool were s***,’ said the man alleged to be Coote in the video. ‘(Klopp is a) ****, absolute ****. Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop of me.

Coote and former Liverpool boss Klopp had several runs in with each other over the years

Unkel insisted that the PGMOL had no other option but to suspend Coote following his actions

‘I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. (James) Milner is all right, I get on with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German ****, f*** me.’

In a second video, the man added: ‘Just to be clear, that f***ing last video cannot go anywhere, seriously.’

The game the man alleged to be Coote is referring to in the video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley back in 2020. 

In the match, which saw Liverpool drop points for the first time at home that season, Andy Robertson was caught on camera angrily confronting Coote in an expletive-laden rant after not being awarded a penalty.

‘How’s that not a penalty is a disgrace,; the Scotsman fumed after the game. ‘How the f*** is that not a penalty? You didn’t see f****** anything. 

‘You didn’t see anything the whole game apart from f****** booking them in the last minute. F*** me. What’s the point in having you in the middle? What’s the point in having you? F*** me. Honestly.’

Coote has been a Premier League referee since 2018 and had plenty of run-ins with Klopp, who left Anfield at the end of last campaign.

Midway through last season during Arsenal‘s clash with Liverpool in December, Klopp vented his fury at Coote and the rest of the match officials after his side were denied a penalty despite Martin Odegaard appearing to handle the ball inside the 18-yard box.

The game the man alleged to be Coote is referring to in the video was Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley back in 2020, with Andy Robertson seen confronting him at full-time

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp clashing with Coote during a league match back in 2022

Chris Kavanagh, who was the match referee, waved play on and the game was not stopped for a VAR check by the officials, with Coote confident that the Norwegian only handled the ball in the act of falling, which isn’t deemed punishable by the Premier League’s rules. 

‘Yes I have seen it,’ Klopp fumed after the game. ‘I am pretty sure someone will come to explain it to me why it was not a handball but I don’t know how? I don’t say that the ref can see it because I don’t know where he was in that moment.’

Referring to Coote’s role in the incident, he added: ‘But how can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe, possibly it could be worth the referee having another look?’

Howard Webb, head of PGMOL, subsequently admitted that Kavanagh and Coote made a mistake by not awarding Liverpool a penalty during the 1-1 draw.