Former Premier League referee David Coote has received a suspension of eight weeks by the FA and has to attend a mandatory face-to-face education program about comments he made about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Coote was sued in June after a video – which seemed to show that Coote -release reactions about Liverpool and their former Klopp manager – was widely distributed on social media in November 2024.
The video was not verified, but Coote confirmed in the FA investigation that the video was made in his living room in June 2020, next to a friend he knew by playing cricket.
During the investigation, run by an independent committee, Coote said that his words did not reflect his true feeling against Klopp, for whom he has a “deep professional respect”. Coote has personally apologized to Klopp, as well as the FA, the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) and the wider football community.
The PGMOL confirmed the termination of Coote's employment in December and said that a thorough investigation concluded that he was “in serious violation of the provisions of his employment contract, with his function that was considered untenable”.
Coote was accused of FA rule E3.1 where reportedly had acted “incorrectly and/or offensive and/or offensive words” about Klopp. The former officer admitted the indictment.
However, Coote was released from accusations of gambling misconduct. He was examined by the FA for a reported incident at the Leeds match against West Brom in October 2019.
Reports in November proposed Cootee who booked the then LEDs player Ezgjan Alioski and then sent a friend who said: “I hope you have supported yourself back as discussed.” Coote had always strongly denied the claim.
In February Coote was banned by UEFA until 30 June 2026 after another video arose that he sniffed a white powder through a banknote while he was in Germany for last summer's euro.
In January Coote came out as gay and said that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the anger about Klopp.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote said: “I felt a deep feeling of shame during my teenage years in particular. I did not come to my parents until I was 21. I only came to my friends in my 25.
“My sexuality is not the only reason to be in that position. But I don't tell an authentic story if I don't say that I am gay and that I have had real struggles to hide that.
“I hid my emotions like a young ref and I also hide my sexuality – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a person.
“That led me to a whole course of behavior.”
He added: “I had problems with my self -respect – and that relates to my sexuality. I am gay and I have had trouble being proud to be 'I' for a long period.
“During my career as a ref I received very unpleasant abuse and my sexuality that adding would have been very difficult.”
Timeline: What led to the dismissal of Coote?
Saturday, November 9, 2024: Coote Referees Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa.
Monday, November 11: A non -reverified video of Coote that makes denigrating comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp is circulating on social media.
Monday, November 11: PGMOL suspends Coote and starts an investigation.
Tuesday, November 12: FA starts its own research into Coote Video.
Tuesday, November 12: Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb says on Sky Sports' competition officials who have Mic'd Up that PGMOL is “very serious”.
Wednesday, November 27: FA Research into accusations Coote discussed giving a yellow card for a competition as reported by the Sun. Coote refutes accusations.
Monday, December 9: Coote dismissed by PGMOL.
Friday, February 28: UEFA prohibits Coote until June 2026.
Tuesday, June 17: Coote charged by FA via Klopp reactions, but no charges transferred gambling misconduct.
Tuesday, August 12: Coote will receive a suspension of eight weeks by the FA and must attend a mandatory face-to-face education program.