Suspended PL referee David Coote's friend 'gutted' after leaked video on Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool

A person familiar with the individual who filmed Premier League referee David Coote going on a rant against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp has spoken up after the controversial video leaked. The PGMOL has suspended Coote after a video emerged of him blasting the former Reds manager.

Coote, 42, has refereed 112 EPL games in his career but has gotten into trouble for a video in which he said (via Mirror):

"Liverpool were s***, (Klopp is a) c***, 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."

Following the controversy after the video was made public, a friend of ex-Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt, the individual believed to have filmed the video, told the Daily Mail anonymously:

"I’ve just been told the lad is absolutely gutted about it, he’s (was) really good mates with Coote, and, he honestly has no idea how this has come out. It will affect him too as he works in recruitment within the sports industry, so there’ll be plenty of grumbling there. He has no idea how it’s come out at all."

David Coote has been suspended pending an investigation for his comments. It has not been determined whether he refereed differently for or against the Merseysiders in the past.

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What former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said about David Coote in 2020

Suspended English referee David Coote and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had a rocky relationship before the German left English football. The German manager previously criticized the referee and the pair did not seem to enjoy a great working relationship.

David Coote has been a referee since 2018 and has overseen several important matches, notably the 2022/23 EFL Cup final between Newcastle and Manchester United.

However, the referee and Klopp did not enjoy an amicable relationship, with the German blasting the Englishman after a game against Everton in October 2020, saying (via Yahoo Sports):

"It was not the first time and it won't be the last, but both challenges were difficult to accept, Michael Oliver is an excellent referee but he had the best view. Then VAR [Coote] forgets the rules."

Jurgen Klopp also aimed more barbs at Coote after a game against Burnley in July 2020, telling the press:

“The referee let lots of challenges go so it was clear that if the ball comes into the box it was dangerous, We were angry with the referee but we have to criticize ourselves first for not finishing the game."

Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool after nine years at the end of last season and has been replaced by Arne Slot. He managed eight games that David Coote oversaw, winning five, drawing one, and losing two.