Premier League official suspended for expletive rant over Arsenal and Chelsea title rival

Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the PGMOL after a video allegedly showing an expletive rant by the official about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp surfaced online.

Coote, who was in charge for the Reds 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday, pours scorn on the Arsenal and Chelsea title rivals in the video which appears to date back to several years ago. The referee can be seen calling Klopp a 'German ****' and 'f***ing arrogant'.

According to The Mirror, Coote is said to 'vehemently deny inappropriate conduct' and is contesting the legitimacy of the video.

The 42-year-old has refereed six Premier League matches so far this term. He oversaw West Ham's controversial late win over Manchester United last month and Tottenham Hotspur's capitulation against Brighton at the AMEX Stadium. He was also in charge for the 0-0 draw between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Coote is yet to referee any fixture involving London sides Arsenal and Chelsea this term. The referee last officiated a Gunners match when Mikel Arteta's side beat AFC Bournemouth 3-0 in May. His last Chelsea game was a defeat to Wolves on Christmas Eve last year.

In the video, the man alleged to be Coote said: "Liverpool were s**. [Klopp is a] ****, absolute ****. Aside from having a right pop at me when I was referring them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop of me.

"I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is all right, I get on with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German ****, f*** me."

Providing an update on the investigation on Monday afternoon, The Times reporter Paul Joyce wrote on social media platform X: "David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete."

The fixture which is referenced in the video appears to be the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Burnley in 2020. Klopp's side dropped points for the first time at home that season in that fixture, in which Liverpool felt they should have been awarded a penalty.