David Coote's derogatory remarks cost him his job as referee

In December 2024, David Coote, a Nottinghamshire referee, was terminated from his position by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following the emergence of a controversial video that surfaced on November 11, 2024. In this video, Coote expressed disrespectful opinions regarding Liverpool Football Club and its former manager, Jurgen Klopp, while discussing a match where he served as fourth official. His comments included disparaging terms, reflecting a personal grievance against Klopp stemming from an earlier encounter during a match in lockdown against Burnley. This led the PGMOL to conduct a thorough investigation, which they concluded indicated a serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, rendering his position untenable. The video not only included derogatory language toward Liverpool, describing them as “s***”, but also referred to Klopp with similar disrespect. Coote explained his negative feelings towards Klopp by mentioning an accusation made by Klopp during a previous match, which he believed was unfounded. As Coote referred to Klopp as a “f****** arrogant” individual, it created a public outcry that necessitated further scrutiny from both his employers and the Football Association (FA). Additionally, Coote was under investigation for a separate incident captured on another video, where he appeared to be engaging in drug use during Euro 2024, in which he served as an assistant VAR. This raised further ethical concerns about his fitness to officiate matches. In light of these incidents, the PGMOL underscored their commitment to supporting his welfare while officially stating Coote had the right to appeal against their decision but chose not to do so according to reports. The convergence of misconduct allegations and his derogatory comments ultimately culminated in a decision that had both professional and ethical implications for not just Coote, but also for the standards maintained within refereeing. The FA initiated its investigation focusing particularly on the racial implications of Coote’s comments regarding Klopp’s German nationality, which could potentially lead to further sanctions depending on their findings. As referees hold positions of significant accountability and public trust, the incident with Coote has sparked debates about personal conduct and the responsibilities of those involved in officiating sports at high levels.