David Coote scandal – all we all know on ref’s video, Klopp feud, prices and £1m punishment

David Coote didn’t have the greatest Monday.

The Premier League referee was suspended by PGMOL after a video leaked on social media of him labelling Jurgen Klopp a “German c***”. PGMOL confirmed to Daily Star Sport they were investigating Coote before releasing a statement: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.

“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.” And Daily Star Sport now has a look at what he know about the case and what punishment Coote could face if he’s charged.

Will David Coote referee again?

Coote is currently suspended by PGMOL – but that doesn’t mean he will not referee again.

The investigation is ongoing, with Sky Sports reporting PGMOL are also looking into the validity of the video. It has since been suggested that the 42-year-old official, from Nottinghamshire, admits it’s him in the video, but doesn’t remember the entire contents of the conversation.

However, until the investigation is complete we will not know what kind of future Coote will have in officiating – although it seems unlikely he’ll be taking charge of any games involving Liverpool let alone making an appearance at Anfield any time soon. PGMOL have said they will not make any further comments until the investigation is completed.

How much money will David Coote miss out on?

Referees in the Premier League are paid between £73,191 and £147,258, based on their experience and rank, with a match fee of £1,116 per game or £837 if they’re working as the video assistant referee for any selected match.

According to The Athletic, referees also earn bonuses based on the quality of their performance – this is measured using ‘key match incidents’, and the more they get right the higher the pay cheque.

However, according to The Sun, Coote will quit before he’s sacked – costing him £100,000-per-year. A source quoted by the publication said: “He’s looking at more than a million quid down the drain there when you add it all up.”

When was the video taken and who was he with?

According to the Daily Mail, the video is from a couple of years ago after Coote had a night out in a casino. The individual next to Coote is former Nottinghamshire cricket star Ben Kitt.

The video is believed to have emerged from the Nottinghamshire cricket WhatsApp group, where Kitt had a two-year contract, before injuries scuppered his career. However, the 29-year-old, who can be seen on the video saying “Liverpool are all f***ing b***ends and we hate f***ing Scousers” now works for Forsyth Barnes – an executive recruitment firm.

Kitt has since been suspended by the firm on full pay pending an investigation.

What charges is Coote facing?

According to The Times, the FA will make their own separate probe for the use of the word “German” and that could lead to an aggravated misconduct charge.

FA rules state that an “aggravated breach” includes a reference “whether express or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality”.

An FA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the matter, and we are investigating.”

Jurgen Klopp’s Coote feud

It’s safe to say Klopp and Coote aren’t the best of friends.

“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 someone who is f***ing arrogant,” Coote said in the leaked video. While the German once labelling him as just a “man in an office” when Liverpool were denied a penalty against Arsenal last December, after a clear Martin Odegaard handball – which PGMOL boss Howard Webb later admitted should have been awarded – wasn’t given by the man on VAR.

He also infamously lost his rag with Coote during their League Cup clash with Fulham in January. Coote had been a bit too whistle-happy when Alexis Mac Allister wriggled away from a challenge, causing a furious Klopp to launch a tirade at Coote. The referee, to be fair, held his hands up towards the Reds boss as if to acknowledge his error.

Coote appeared to refer in the video to their initial falling out coming after a 1-1 draw Liverpool had with Burnley at Anfield shortly before the Reds were crowned Premier League Champions in 2020. In the 83rd minute, Andy Robertson tried to get to a loose ball in the Clarets’ penalty box. Burnley’s Johann Gudmundsson cleared the danger but took the Reds’ Scottish defender down in the process.

Coote waved away the appeals, but Robertson approached the official at full time and said: “How’s that not a penalty is a disgrace”. The draw halted Liverpool’s 24-match winning run at Anfield, with Klopp later telling TV cameras: “The referee let lots of challenges go so it was clear that if the ball comes into the box it was dangerous. We were angry with the referee but we have to criticise ourselves first for not finishing the game.”

And it was only made worse when Coote was on VAR during the Merseyside derby later that year, when Jordan Pickford lunged at star defender Virgil van Dijk in a horror challenge, with the Dutchman tearing his ACL, but Coote failed to recommend the goalkeeper should be sent off.

According to The Athletic, Coote wasn’t looking at just a potential red card but also checking for a possible penalty for Liverpool and offside against Van Dijk. Van Dijk was given offside, so the possibility of a penalty was ruled out. However, Everton’s goalkeeper could still have been dismissed, but Coote somehow didn’t deem the horrific foul worthy of a red card. After the game ended in a controversial 2-2 draw, Klopp accused him of “forgetting the rules”.