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FA Suspends Former Premier League Referee David Coote for Klopp Video

The Football Association (FA) has handed former Premier League referee David Coote an eight-week suspension for making inappropriate comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a leaked social media video.

Coote, who was dismissed by the Premier League in December 2024, was found guilty of an “aggravated breach” of FA Rule E3.2 after referencing Klopp’s nationality in the clip — a violation the FA deemed discriminatory in nature.

The incident dates back to around July 2020, but the footage only surfaced online in November 2024, prompting public backlash and an official investigation.

In addition to the suspension, the FA reiterated its stance against discriminatory remarks in football, stressing that referees and officials are expected to uphold the sport’s values of respect and inclusion both on and off the pitch.