DAVID COOTE has been slapped with a two-month ban by the FA for his rant about Jurgen Klopp.
The Sun told in November how Coote had called Klopp a “German c***” in a leaked video.
PAFormer Premier League referee David Coote has been given an eight-week suspension over his Jurgen Klopp rant[/caption]
We then revealed a film of him doing cocaine at last summer’s Euros.
As well as his suspension by the FA, Coote must now undergo a mandatory face-to-face education programme.
Coote was sacked by the Premier League in December 2024, after the PGMOL intially suspended him.
He has now been further punished by the FA for an “aggravated breach” of rule E3.2 due to referencing Klopp’s nationality in the video.
Coote admitted the charge and the FA said the ex-ref expressed “deep remorse” and acknowledged his comments were “crass and inappropriate”.
Coote also said that his words did not reflect his true view of Klopp, for whom he had a “deep professional respect”
He also apologised to the former Liverpool boss personally and to The FA, PGMOL and the wider football community.
The clip, which was filmed around July 2020, was leaked online in November 2024.
In the viral video, he referred to Liverpool as “s***” and extraordinarily dropped the C-bomb to describe ex-Reds boss Klopp.
Coote said: “Liverpool were s*** . Klopp is an 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***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 c***, f*** me.”
Since his sacking, Coote has been spotted delivering packages for Evri.
A couple were stunned to see the 42-year-old on their Ring doorbell, below, dropping off a parcel in June.
He told The Sun at the time: “I’m just trying to make an honest living.”
Meanwhile, we also revealed Coote could make a sensational return to football — as a VAR instructor.
The 42-year-old, lauded for his honesty over his cocaine shame, could use his vast experience to help younger officials.
A source close to him said: “He’s built up an incredible wealth of knowledge and skill. It would be a massive shame if that was lost because of mistakes he made while under moments of incredible stress.
“He still gets on with all the other referees and I could see him taking a role somewhere. He’d be perfect as a VAR pundit or expert.”
In an exclusive interview in the Sun, Coote also said he was scared to come out as gay and took coke to “escape”.
Paul Field, chairman of the Referees’ Association, said he hoped Coote is able to remain in English football.
He said: “The work he does with young people is exemplary. He’s an unbelievable tutor. He puts so much time and effort into the up-and-coming grassroots officials.
“I’d love him to be part of the FA, training, mentoring, out of the public light to look after himself. He has so much to offer.”
Coote was among the UK’s top three VAR exponents — and one of a select few English officials called up for international matches.
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