DAVID COOTE can kiss goodbye to more than £1MILLION after his astonishing X-rated rant at Jurgen Klopp.
The under-fire Premier League referee faces ruin having been caught on video labelling Liverpool’s former boss a “German c***”.
Referee David Coote was caught on video labelling ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c***’X
ReutersCoote is expected to quit as a referee before he’s sacked[/caption]
APCoote unleashed an astonishing rant at ex-Liverpool boss Klopp[/caption]
Refs’ chiefs at the PGMOL are investigating but believe Coote will quit before he gets sacked.
The FA have also launched their own probe. VAR specialist Coote, 42, was booted off Uefa’s matchlist for a Nations League game during the international break following his foul-mouthed remarks.
Referencing Klopp’s nationality means Coote faces stiffer sanctions from a potential aggravated misconduct charge.
Fifa are now looking into his part-time position with them.
PGMOL boss Howard Webb said: “We became aware of a video on social media that we are taking very seriously. We have instigated a full investigation.
“David Coote has been suspended pending the outcome. There’s not much more I can say at this stage.”
The sensational minute-long clip looks set to end Coote’s career and cost him a fortune in lost earnings.
He stands to lose his job as a Select Group 1 referee that pays him at least £100,000 a year.
And the Nottinghamshire official has no hope of keeping a role within the PGMOL once he hangs up his whistle — like many of his peers.
A source told SunSport: “He’s looking at more than a million quid down the drain there when you add it all up.”
A video was posted online on Monday showing Coote laying into Klopp and labelling him “f***ing arrogant”.
He also said Liverpool were “s**t” in the footage, which was recorded several years ago.
Coote has not denied the authenticity of the video but “does not recall” making it.
The official has history with Klopp, who left the Kop giants in May.
Shocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
They clashed after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Burnley at Anfield in July 2020 during the pandemic-hit season.
The explosive comments cast serious doubt on his impartiality and suitability to referee in English football again.
His remarks about Liverpool mean he could no longer referee their games with a shred of credibility.
But neither can he take charge of matches involving their rivals in case his decisions indirectly affected them.
And any club with a German boss or player could claim they would not receive fair treatment from Coote.
The man who filmed Coote’s anti-Liverpool rant has been named as former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt.
Kitt has also reportedly been suspended from his job.