A controversial video has surfaced featuring Premier League referee in which he unleashes a foul-mouthed rant against formermanager and the club.
Coote, 42, who recently officiated Liverpool’s win over , has become the center of heated discussion following the circulation of footage that appears to show him using highly inflammatory language toward Klopp and Liverpool.
The video shows Coote in conversation with a friend, who initially asks his opinion on a Liverpool performance. Coote’s response is blunt: “Liverpool were s**t.”
When pressed for his thoughts on Klopp, Coote’s language escalates, using several expletives to describe the former Liverpool manager.
He accused Klopp of being “arrogant” and recounted past friction between the two during a match against Burnley in 2020. “C**t, absolute c**t,” Coote allegedly says.
“Aside from having a right pop at me when I was reffing against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f**king pop at me. I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody as f**king arrogant… my god, German ct. F** me.”
The individual filming the video chimes in, “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c**t, Liverpool are all f**king bellends and we hate Scousers,” adding more fuel to an already inflammatory tirade.
The controversy surrounding Coote isn’t new. His name was already associated with a flashpoint incident in October 2020 when, as the VAR official, he failed to penalise goalkeeper for a high challenge on Liverpool’s resulting in a serious ACL injury for the Dutch defender.
A second clip shows Coote pleading with the individual recording to keep the footage private, expressing concerns about his professional reputation. Despite his request, the video has made its way online, sparking widespread outrage among Liverpool fans and football supporters.
While the timing and context of the video remain uncertain, the fact that such remarks were made by a referee at the top level of English football is problematic.
The Premier League has a strict code of conduct for referees, and any display of bias toward a club or manager can undermine the sport’s integrity.
At a time when refereeing decisions are under intense scrutiny, especially in high-stakes matches, this footage further calls into question the professionalism and impartiality expected of officials at this level.