The Football Association has launched an investigation following a social media video allegedly showing Premier League referee David Coote making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) announced Monday that Coote, 42, has been suspended while the investigation is conducted.
The FA is also examining Coote's comments, with part of the inquiry reportedly focusing on whether Coote’s mention of Klopp’s nationality may violate its misconduct rules.
An FA spokesperson confirmed, "We are aware of the matter and are investigating it," on Tuesday.
In the video, Coote, who officiated Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, allegedly called Klopp "arrogant" and used offensive language.
Former referee and current TV pundit Mike Dean, 56, voiced concerns on Sky Sports, saying: "As referees, you can't put yourself in that position. You may speak off-camera among friends and colleagues, but letting it be recorded is a major risk."
The video seems to reference a 1-1 match Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, shortly after Liverpool had clinched the Premier League title. Klopp criticized Coote after that game, claiming the referee was too lenient on Burnley's physical play.
Klopp left Liverpool last season after nearly nine years at Anfield. He had also expressed frustration with Coote's officiating as VAR in a match against Arsenal, where a handball incident involving Martin Odegaard went unreviewed.
Coote was additionally the VAR in the October 2020 Merseyside derby, where Everton’s Jordan Pickford injured Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in a challenge that went unpunished due to FA rules on retrospective action.