Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged by the Football Association for making derogatory comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a leaked video that surfaced on social media.
The 42-year-old, who was suspended in November 2024 after the emergence of the clip, was later dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a “thorough investigation” into his conduct.
The FA has now formally charged Coote under Rule E3.1, alleging that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and/or insulting language. The charge has been aggravated due to a reference made to Klopp’s nationality in the video.
Coote, from Nottinghamshire, has also been cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to gambling allegations. Claims had circulated that he discussed issuing a yellow card to a player prior to a match, but the FA found no evidence of misconduct. Coote had strongly denied the accusations, calling them “false and defamatory.”
In a separate disciplinary matter, UEFA handed Coote a ban in February preventing him from officiating in European competitions until June 30, 2026. That sanction followed the release of a video showing Coote sniffing a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024.
In January, Coote publicly came out as gay, revealing that he had concealed his sexuality during his refereeing career due to fear of abuse. Speaking to The Sun, he also admitted to developing a drug habit, which he said he has since overcome through therapy.