Ex-Premier League referee banned for eight weeks over Klopp comments

Ex-Premier League referee David Coote has been banned for eight weeks for comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Football Association (FA) said Coote had also been ordered to do a "face-to-face education programme". Coote previously admitted using abusive or insulting words about Klopp in a video recorded around July 2020, which appeared on social media in November 2024.

In the clip, he describes Klopp as a "German c***" and calls him "f****** arrogant". The FA said his actions amounted to an "aggravated breach" as his words included a reference to the German manager's nationality.

Coote said during the investigation that it did not reflect his true feeling towards Klopp, for whom he has a "deep professional respect". The FA's report said Coote had also expressed "deep remorse" and admitted his remarks were "crass" and "inappropriate".

He has apologised to Klopp personally, as well as the FA, the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) and the wider football community. Coote's eight-week ban covers "all football and football related activity".

Referees' body PGMOL confirmed the termination of Coote's employment in December. It said it had found he was "in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable".

The FA cleared him earlier this summer of other allegations of gambling misconduct. Read more on Sky News:Administrator lined up for water firmYouth group abused after mistake In February, Coote was banned by UEFA until 30 June 2026 after a different video emerged of him snorting a white powder while in Germany for last summer's Euros.

Coote came out as gay this year and said a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp. In a statement to Sky News in January, Coote added: "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life.

I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me. "I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love.".