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Former Premier League referee David Coote(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

David Coote has been banned by the Football Association after admitting to the multiple charges as a consequence of his expletive-laden rant at Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed an eight-week suspension and mandatory face-to-face education programme for the former referee after a hearing into the incident.

Coote was initially suspended last November after a video emerged on social media in which he appeared to call Liverpool "s**t" and Klopp "a German c**t".

He was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) - the body which governs referees - the following month following an investigation into his conduct after a slew of other allegations emerged in national newspapers.

Coote was then banned by UEFA in February for his conduct around Euro 2024.

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The FA also began their own probe and in May charged Coote, who subsequently admitted the offences during a hearing held last month.

And an FA statement released on Tuesday said: "It was alleged that contrary to FA Rule E3.1 the referee acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words about Jurgen Klopp in a video that was recorded around July 2020 and appeared on social media in November 2024.

"It was also alleged that his actions constitute an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as they included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality.

David Coote subsequently admitted the charge."

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In the written reasons for the decision, it is stated Coote confirmed the video had been recorded in the summer of 2020 in his living room, with the only other person present a friend with whom he had played cricket.

The video had not been intended for a wider audience, although Coote believed his friend had shared the video with a friend of his but was unaware of who released it to social media.

Coote said he "regretted the language used and accepted that it was highly inappropriate" and "expressed his deep remorse for what he had done".

He also regarded his comments as "crass, inappropriate and unworthy of the role that he held within the game".

Coote also detailed the mental impact of the pandemic, with the setting in which the video was recorded his first social interaction during that period and that he "had drunk more than he should have and had lacked self-control and judgement".

Coote also stated feeling "an immense sense of shame" and he had now "lost a career that formed the very core of his identity".

The former referee also insisted his words did not reflect his true view of Klopp and has always had a "deep professional" respect for the ex-Liverpool boss.

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Coote also said he had apologised to Klopp personally and to the FA, PGMOL and the wider football community.


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