The Football Association has charged former Premier League referee David Coote over offensive remarks made about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
Coote, 42, was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December after a video surfaced online showing him making derogatory comments about Klopp and Liverpool, dating back to 2020. Among the remarks was a reference to Klopp’s German nationality, which the FA classified as an alleged “aggravated breach” of its regulations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the FA confirmed that Coote would not face any further action over separate gambling allegations, which he had strongly denied. Those claims were investigated and subsequently dropped.
A separate video that appeared in November showed Coote snorting a white substance, reportedly during Euro 2024. Earlier this year, UEFA banned him from all officiating duties until June 2026.
In a January interview, Coote publicly came out as gay and admitted that the stress of concealing his sexuality had led to poor decisions. He expressed regret over his actions, saying he was “truly sorry for any offence caused.”
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