David Coote, one of the UK’s most prominent Premier League referees, is under increasing scrutiny.
His position is at risk following a week filled with controversies and allegations. The 42-year-old was suspended by the PGMOL after a video surfaced allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Further footage emerged of Coote allegedly snorting a white substance with a bank note. This video was reportedly taken while he was on duty at the European Championships in France this summer.
Coote receives a substantial salary from PGMOL and often officiates some of the country’s biggest matches, and even refereed the Carabao Cup final in 2023. As the controversy surrounding one of the Premier League’s most senior officials continues, we examine his overall situation.
What is David Coote’s salary?
Premier League referees earn between £73,191 and £147,258 per year, depending on their experience and ranking. Officials also receive a match fee of £1,116 per game, or £837 if they’re serving as the video assistant referee, reports the Mirror.
According to The Athletic, referees can earn bonuses based on the quality of their performance. This is assessed using ‘key match incidents’, meaning the more decisions they get right, the higher the fee they receive.
A report from The Sun reveals that referee David Coote is on a £100,000 annual salary. Meanwhile, Mike Dean, the most high-earning Premier League official ever, is said to have raked in a cool £200,000 before retiring.
What allegations is David Coote facing?
A video has surfaced showing Coote allegedly unleashing a verbal onslaught against Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. He purportedly used offensive language to describe Klopp, including a derogatory term related to his German nationality, and labelled Liverpool as subpar during a match he officiated.
In a clip, Coote appears to recount an altercation with Klopp, saying: “C**t, absolute c**t. Aside from having a right pop at me when I was reffing against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f*****g pop at me. I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody as f*****g arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him…my god, German c***t. F**k me.”
Following the video’s release, believed to be shot during the Covid-19 pandemic, PGMOL took immediate disciplinary action against Coote. Their statement said: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
UEFA has also taken measures, sidelining the official from their roster for forthcoming international games. The controversy then escalated when a second clip purportedly showing Coote inhaling a white powder surfaced.
As reported by The Sun, in the eight-second WhatsApp footage, Coote appears to snort a line of a white substance with a rolled-up US bank note. This scene is alleged to have taken place on July 6, just one day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final match between France and Portugal, where Coote served as a support VAR official.
PGMOL affirmed they are treating the new allegations with extreme gravity. “We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation,” a PGMOL spokesperson said.
“David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
A spokesperson for UEFA said: “The UEFA Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November – in advance of the upcoming round of UEFA matches – when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour.”
What punishment could David Coote receive?
PGMOL is reportedly considering suspending Coote for a significant period or possibly stripping him of his officiating duties entirely. In addition to the looming PGMOL probe, Coote may also face action from the Football Association.
The Times has reported that the FA will launch their own investigation into the use of the term “German”, which could result in an aggravated misconduct charge. FA regulations specify that an “aggravated breach” encompasses references, whether explicit or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality.”
An FA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the matter, and we are investigating.” It is understood that Coote is contemplating resigning from his position as one of the Premier League’s top officials before potentially being dismissed and he has acknowledged the authenticity of the initial video where he made remarks about Klopp.
Debate continues over what consequences Coote should face. Before the emergence of the second video, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville argued that the 42-year-old should not lose his job, and ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean also suggested there might be a path to redemption for Coote. However, the footage of him allegedly snorting a white substance at the Euros could make his position untenable.
