LONDON — A referee from the English Premier League has been suspended following the emergence of a video on social media that seemingly depicts him making offensive comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
David Coote has been placed on immediate suspension as a thorough investigation is launched, announced the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, which oversees refereeing in England, on Monday.
The circulating video allegedly shows Coote using a pejorative term to refer to Klopp and expressing his grievances about the German manager, claiming he harbored animosity because Klopp had “accused me of lying” after a match.
The exact timing of the video’s recording and its authenticity have yet to be determined.
Coote officiated Liverpool’s last league match, where they secured a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa on Saturday night.
Klopp departed from Liverpool at the conclusion of the previous season and has since been succeeded by Dutch coach Arne Slot.
