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The referees’ body, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has sacked David Coote, a Premier League official, following an investigation into his misconduct. He was suspended by the PGMOL in November after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. On top of that, there were photos published in the Sun that appeared to show Coote sniffing a white powder using a rolled-up US banknote. Neither the video nor the photos have been verified independently by the BBC. The PGMOL stated unequivocally that Coote’s actions made his position untenable.
The initial suspension came after a video was circulated on social media that appeared to show Coote criticizing Liverpool and Klopp after a match against Burnley that Coote officiated. Klopp criticized Coote after the game for not giving fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players. The FA opened an investigation the following day. On November 13, the PGMOL confirmed that it was investigating the allegations very seriously following the publication of images that appeared to show Coote sniffing a white powder. Coote was working as a match official at the Euros at the time, and UEFA also suspended Coote as it launched its inquiry.
Coote denied any wrongdoing, saying the allegation was false and defamatory. However, the FA opened a new investigation following the exchange of messages with a fan where Coote discussed giving a yellow card before and after the game between Leeds and West Brom in 2019. Coote was appointed as a Premier League referee for the first time in April 2018 when West Brom won 1-0 at Newcastle. He refereed 11 games in the top flight during 2018-19 and has gone on to referee 112 Premier League games, including three Liverpool fixtures.
Coote is one of the PGMOL’s most highly-rated video assistant referees (VAR) and has been the VAR for 64 Premier League matches, 11 of which have involved Liverpool. As VAR, Coote was the subject of controversy after a Liverpool match against Everton in October 2020 when Jordan Pickford was not sent off for a challenge made on Virgil van Dijk, as well as a stoppage-time goal from Jordan Henderson being disallowed for offside. Liverpool asked the Premier League to review the two decisions. Coote was not appointed as the VAR for a Liverpool Premier League match until September 2023, the first of seven Liverpool Premier League matches as VAR last season
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