FA Charges Ex-Referee David Coote Over Klopp Remarks

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) over controversial comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.

The 42-year-old official, who was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December 2024, faces disciplinary action for remarks captured in a 2020 video that resurfaced on social media last November.

The FA stated that Coote’s comments, which included a reference to Klopp’s German nationality, may constitute an “aggravated breach” of its rules due to potential discriminatory undertones.

Coote will not face further action over separate gambling allegations, which he had firmly denied. The FA confirmed that a thorough investigation into the matter found no wrongdoing.

In addition to the FA charge, Coote had already been banned by UEFA in January 2025 from all officiating duties until June 2026, following the release of another video allegedly showing him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024.

Earlier this year, Coote also made headlines after publicly coming out as gay, revealing in an interview that the internal struggle with his identity had impacted his decision-making on the field.