Premier League official suspended - has refereed Newcastle United this season

Coote, who refereed Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday night, is shown in the clip - which appears to be at least a few years old - calling then Reds boss Klopp a ‘German ----’ and ‘f---ing arrogant’.

Asked by a friend for his opinion of Klopp, the person alleged to be Coote said: “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. I’ve got no interest at speaking to someone who’s f---ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … My God, German ----, ---- me.”

The camera then goes back onto the friend, who says “long story short: Jurgen Klopp’s a ----, Liverpool are all f---ing b------ds and we hate Scousers.”

In a separate video, Coote appears to ask viewers not to share the original recording. “Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously,” he says. The friend says: “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad.”

The PGMOL, in response, released the following 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.”

The game the man alleged to be Coote is understood to be referring to was Liverpool's controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley back in 2020. Andy Robertson was caught on camera angrily confronting Coote in an X-rated rant after not being awarded a penalty.

Coote was the man in the middle for Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw at AFC Bournemouth in August, where Dango Ouattara saw a late winner disallowed for handball by VAR.

Newcastle fans may remember Coote oversaw their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United in February last year.

In the build-up to the final, Coote was accused of being a Man United fan after fake image showed Coote's alleged Facebook page with a generic photo of Old Trafford as his cover photo.

Coote was born in Nottinghamshire and qualified with his local FA, working as a referee development officer with the Notts FA between 2004 and 2012.