Scandal-hit Premier League ref David Coote SACKED after videos emerged of anti-Klopp rant and snorting white powder

DAVID Coote has been sacked as a Premier League referee.

Videos have previously emerged showing the critical official ranting about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and snorting white powder.

David Coote has been sacked as a Premier League referee Credit: Reuters

It comes after a video emerged of him attacking former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in an insult tagged XZasluge: X

SunSport then revealed a video of him snorting the suspicious white powder

The PGMOL, which is responsible for refereeing in English professional football, investigated the case against Liverpool and suspended Coote pending the outcome.

Now they have confirmed that his employment has been terminated.

The statement said Coote’s actions were a “serious breach of the terms of his employment contract”, but added the organization remained “committed to his welfare”.

The 42-year-old was filmed calling the former Reds boss a “German bitch”.

The Sun then exclusively revealed footage of Coote snorting what appears to be cocaine while officiating at this summer’s Euros in Germany.

In the eight-second WhatsApp clip, he was wide-eyed as he used a rolled-up US bill to snort a four-inch line of the substance in his Uefa-funded hotel room.

The previous day, the official acted as VAR for France’s quarter-final win over Portugal.

A PGMOL statement said: “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has today been terminated with immediate effect.

“David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the terms of his employment contract and his position was deemed untenable.

“Support for David Coote remains important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.

Premier League referee David Coote’s update following UEFA’s statement and revelation that referees are not drug tested

“David Coote has the right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”

Uefa has already removed Coote from the fixture list for the Nations League game during the international break.

Meanwhile, FIFA is also considering his part-time position with them.

The sensational videos were to end Coote’s career and cost him a fortune in lost earnings.

He is understood to earn around £100,000 a year as a Select Group 1 judge.

KLOPP RANT

The first video, released in November, shows Coote slamming Klopp and calling him “f***ing arrogant”.

He also said Liverpool were “s**t” in the footage which was taken a few years ago.

Coote did not deny the authenticity of the video, but said he had “no recollection” of making it.

The official has a history with Klopp, who left the Kop giants in May.

They clashed after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Burnley at Anfield in July 2020 during a pandemic-hit season.

The explosive comments cast serious doubt on his impartiality and suitability to referee English football again.

The man who recorded Coote’s speech against Liverpool has been named as former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt.

Kitt has also reportedly been suspended from his job.

David Coote’s shocking video in full

The first video

First Man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were the fourth official?”

Another man (supposedly Coote): “Um, Liverpool was a dick.”

First Man: “What do you think of Jurgen Klopp?”

Another man (reportedly Coote): “C***, absolutely c***.”

First Man: “Why would you say Jurgen Klopp is an a***?”

Another man (supposed to be Coote): “Um, except I got hit on the right when I refereed them against Burnley in quarantine.

“Then he accused me of lying, and then he just fucking blew me off – and I have no interest in talking to someone who’s fucking arrogant.

“That’s why I do my best not to talk to him. [James] Milner is fine, I agree with Milner.”

First man: “James Milner, agree with James Milner.”

Another man (reportedly Coote): “You can see me over there with the mask on.”

First Man: “A mask, obviously.”

Another man (reportedly Coote): “Yeah, Covid, it’s got to be over. Social distancing, right? We’re two meters apart.”

First man: “We have to distance ourselves.”

Another man (supposedly Coote): “Yeah, but [exhales] my god German f***, fuck me.”

First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a***, Liverpool are all fucking whores, we hate Scousers.”

Another video

Another man (supposedly Coote): “Okay, just to be clear, that last fucking video can’t go anywhere, seriously.”

First man: He’s a major league referee, let’s not fucking ruin his career.

“Let’s face it, we’re good guys, but we can’t ruin a guy’s career. We’re not that bad. Also, he’s a legend.”

Second man (reportedly Coote): “So, yeah.”

First Man: “So let’s not ruin his career.”

After the video emerged, PGMOL chief Howard Webb said: “We have become aware of a video that has been circulating on social media and we are taking it very seriously.

“We have launched a full investigation. One of our referees, David Coote, has been suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of that investigation.

“I can’t say anything more at this stage until we have completed that investigation.”

BETTING PROBE

The referee is also at the center of an FA betting investigation after it emerged he discussed giving a yellow card before the game.

The conversation took place while Leeds played West Brom in the Championship in October 2019.

During the match, he received a yellow card for Leeds ace Ezgjan Alioski for a foul on Darnell Furlong, which the pundits deemed justified.

The 42-year-old sent a message to his friends after the game: “I hope you supported as agreed.”

Coote is understood to accept there was an argument, but claims it was just “banter” and nothing untoward happened.

The FA said it was investigating “very serious allegations” as a matter of urgency.

MARK HALSEY It’s a shame it has come to this for David Coote – but his position is untenable

Mark Halsey, Sun Sport columnist and former Premier League referee

It is a great shame that this has come to this for David Coote.

But it was inevitable that he would lose his job as a Premier League referee after the release of videos showing him abusing Jurgen Klopp and appearing to snort white powder.

His position in PGMOL became unsustainable.

You have to feel sorry for David – he could have refereed for another ten years and potentially earned more than £2 million during that period.

He will look back and think he made some bad decisions.

But everyone deserves another chance and PGMOL will support them.

I hope they take care of him with an exit package and he has the right to appeal so David will consider all his options.

However, once you get out of PGMOL, they wash their hands of you — as I discovered when I left.

There could be a way to get back into officiating, as Bobby Madley showed after he was fired in 2018.

Madley has lost his job as a Premier League referee over a “dark joke” about a disabled person’s video.

He refereed in Norway for a while, and now he is back in England and works in the Championship.

Leeds have broken their silence on the matter by releasing a statement.

It said: “Leeds United are aware of the allegations regarding the conduct of the match official, including our Championship match against WBA in October 2019.

“We respect and have full confidence in the FA, EFL & PGMOL regulations and processes.

“We will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Messages have emerged showing Coote discussing the handing out of a yellow card to a player before the game. Credit: YouTube

Coote booked Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski after 17 minutes for a foul on Darnell Furlong. Credits: Delivered

Coote has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

There was also no indication that he made any financial gain.

In a statement, Coote maintained his innocence in the matter and maintained that he had always held the “integrity of the game of the utmost importance”.

The statement read: “Whatever problems I had in my personal life, they never affected my decisions on the field.

“I have always held the integrity of the game in high regard, refereeing games impartially and to the best of my ability.”

Last month, SunSport’s bombshell exclusive showed Coote snorting a white powder on his bedside table alongside packets of prescription drugs, a credit card and a Terry Hayes novel The Year of the Grasshopper strewn about.

He sent the video to a friend and is believed to have taken the video at the hotel he was staying at during the tournament.

The judge sent another photo from Frankfurt on July 1st. It displayed his credit cards on a saucer with six chopped lines of suspicious white powder on either side.

Other videos were sent over the summer from France, where Coote was refereeing three soccer matches at the Paris Olympics.

The friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, also reveals the referee made other derogatory remarks about Everton and Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.

Coote named Goodison Park – the home of Liverpool’s rivals Everton – as the worst place to referee because of fans “shouting abuse so close to the pitch”.

He hates refereeing Bournemouth games because it is “too far” and lamented that he is “too big” to have to referee at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for their Championship clash against Oxford United on August 16.

The friend is speaking to point out that Coote apparently brags about constantly taking drugs during tournaments and big Premier matches.