Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the body that governs professional referees in England pending a full investigation after a video circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp.
The video allegedly shows Coote making derogatory and highly obscene comments about Liverpool and German Klopp, who left Anfield in May.
The video has not been verified by Reuters, it is unclear when it was filmed or its authenticity.
"David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) will be making no further comment until that process is complete," PGMOL said.
Liverpool are aware of the video that has been widely circulated on social media but the club will not comment in light of the investigation.
Coote, 42, refereed Liverpool's 2-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday during which both sides had penalty appeals rejected. He has been a match official in the Premier League since 2018 having taken up officiating at 16.
The video seems to refer to a league game Coote refereed between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp publicly criticised Coote after the match, accusing him of not penalising tackles made on Liverpool's players.
