Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer, has stated that a return to elite refereeing for David Coote is "very difficult" following his suspension and subsequent sacking from the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Coote's downfall stems from derogatory comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online. The video, reportedly filmed during lockdown, also contained other claims that led to Coote admitting to drug use.
Webb acknowledged the challenges Coote would face in returning to the Premier League. "I think it'd be really difficult for David to come back, I'm afraid to say," Webb stated. He emphasized that Coote had been a part of the "refereeing family" for a long time and that it was "sad what happened," but a return would be "challenging".
The emergence of the video led to immediate repercussions for Coote. He was suspended by the PGMOL, and the Football Association (FA) launched its own investigation. The FA's investigation focused on a potential breach of rule E3, which deals with behavior that brings the game into disrepute. Coote's comments, which included calling Klopp an "absolute c***" and referencing his nationality with another offensive term, were considered an aggravated breach of the rules.
Further complicating matters, another video surfaced allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024. This led to a ban from UEFA, European football's governing body, until June 30, 2026.
Coote's history with Klopp also played a role in the severity of the situation. The videoed comments referenced a past incident where Klopp confronted Coote after a Liverpool match against Burnley, accusing him of lying about a penalty decision. Coote admitted in the video that he had "no interest in speaking to someone who's f** arrogant," referring to Klopp.
In addition to the on-field issues, Coote's personal struggles also came to light. In January 2025, he came out as gay and stated that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality contributed to the rant about Klopp and his drug use.
Webb noted that the PGMOL has since reviewed and "beefed up" its support for match officials and their families in the wake of Coote's downfall. He explained that the organization had to "care for him and...try to understand why he made some of those choices and where they connected to the job that he had". The PGMOL also spoke to other officials to assess their feelings and identify any additional support they might need.
Despite the possibility of Coote returning to officiate after serving his suspension and completing an education program, Webb believes it is unlikely. "It will be a hard step for him to come back," Webb said. It appears Coote will focus on rebuilding his life away from the football field.
