Premier League referee David Coote has responded to a video circulating on social media after being suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
The PGMOL – the body responsible for Premier League officials – launched an investigation on Monday after a video purporting to show Coote circulated online.
In the clip, a man who resembles Coote can be seen making several disparaging remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp.
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The man calls Liverpool "s***" and Klopp a "c***" in a foul-mouthed chat with another man about the Premier League club.
Pressed for his views on Klopp, the man remarks: "[Klopp is a] c***, absolute c***.
"Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f****** pop of me.
"I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f****** arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him."
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It is not clear when the clip was filmed or if it is even genuine.
But it has circulated just two days after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa, with was refereed by Coote.
The PGMOL confirmed in a statement on Monday that Coote has been suspended with 'immediate effect' pending the outcome of an investigation into the video.
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The Mirror first reported that Coote 'vehemently denies inappropriate conduct' and has been 'insistent to referee chiefs' that the viral video is not genuine.
The PGMOL is reported to have 'tech experts' currently examining the footage to confirm if Coote's claims are true.
It was mentioned that there could be the possibility that the clip is a deep-fake or made using artificial intelligence. However, in an update, Darren Lewis from The Mirror said that Coote accepted the video is indeed legitimate.
But it's understood he stressed he does not remember the content of the conversation, said to be from several years ago.
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Coote is yet to issue a public statement responding to the allegations against him. Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are also yet to comment.
PGMOL confirmed in a statement that it would be making no further comment on the matter until its investigation is complete.
"David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation," read a statement.
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"PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete."
Nottingham-born Coote is one of the Premier League's most-experienced officials and has been refereeing matches in the top flight of English football since 2018.
Topics: Premier League, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, PGMOL
Rory O'Callaghan