David Coote, a former Premier League referee, has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for comments made about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a leaked video. The 42-year-old referee, who was suspended in November 2024 after the video surfaced, made derogatory remarks about Klopp and Liverpool, which led to his dismissal from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) the following month. The FA's charge pertains to rule E3.1, indicating that Coote acted improperly and used abusive language, with specific reference to Klopp's nationality classified as an "aggravated" breach.

In addition to the charges related to his comments, Coote has been cleared of allegations regarding gambling misconduct, which suggested he discussed issuing a yellow card to a player before a match. The referee denied these claims, labeling them as false and defamatory. His troubles extended beyond verbal comments; in February, UEFA banned him from officiating in European competitions until June 30, 2026, following the emergence of a video depicting him behaving inappropriately during the Euro 2024 tournament.

Though Coote is currently out of football, the FA maintains jurisdiction due to the timing of his comments. An independent regulatory commission will oversee the case, deciding on the punishment if Coote admits to the charge. Should he deny the allegations, the commission will review the evidence and determine the outcome. If found guilty and fined, any failure to pay within the stipulated deadline could result in a 25% increase in the fine amount, with further delays leading to a suspension from all football activities until payment is made.