Premier League referee David Coote was charged by the Football Association on Tuesday for comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a video that went viral last year.
What happened after Coote made the comments?
Coote had been sacked by the English football referees’ body, PGMOL, after a video, recorded in July 2020, circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Klopp, and after a full investigation, his position was deemed untenable.
What did FA say?
“It’s alleged that the referee acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words contrary to FA Rule E3.1,” the FA said in a statement.
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“It’s further alleged that this constitutes an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality.”
FA Rule E3.2 explained
Rule E3 deals with improper conduct that brings the game into disrepute, including insulting words or behaviour, while it also covers actions that question the integrity of match officials.
More charges for Coote?
In November, the FA said they were also investigating allegations that Coote had discussed booking a player the day before a game with a friend, which the referee denied.
“No charges have been issued in relation to allegations of gambling misconduct against David Coote, which were also fully investigated,” the FA added.
Coote was banned from officiating any UEFA matches until June 2026, with the 42-year-old apologising for his actions.
(inputs from Reuters)
