BREAKING: PGMOL suspend Aston Villa match ref David Coote after alleged rant at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp

The Premier League referee who officiated the game between Aston Villa and Liverpool at the weekend, David Coote has been suspended as the PGMOL investigate him allegedly calling Liverpool "s***" and Jurgen Klopp a "German c***" in a bombshell video leaked online.

The video, which appears to have been filmed several years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic and was posted on X (formerly Twitter), appears to feature Coote talking to a friend while sitting on a sofa. Mirror Football understands that PGMOL are aware of the video and are investigating.

The PGMOL have released a stement that read: "David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete."

The video appears to have been filmed after a game in which Coote had been acting as fourth official, with his friend asking: "What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier?"

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Coote allegedly responded by saying: "Liverpool were s***." His friend then asked: "What do you think of Jurgen Klopp?" To which Coote replied: "C***. Absolute c***.

"Aside from having a right pop at me when I refereed them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying then had a right f****** pop at me.

"I've got no interest in speaking to someone who's f****** arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. James Milner's alright.

"You can see me there [in a picture on his phone] with a mask on. Got to careful right, we're social distancing, we're two metres apart. But my God, German c***. F*** me."

Coote then made a plea to whoever was being sent the video to not share it. He added: "Just to be clear, that f****** last video can't go anywhere. Seriously."

Coote has been a Premier League referee since 2018, having overseen EFL games for eight years before that. He had a number of run-ins with Klopp during the German's time as Liverpool boss.

One of those flashpoints came last December when he was on VAR duty for the Reds' clash with Arsenal. Gunners captain Martin Odegaard handled the ball in the box as he was falling to the ground, but it was deemed by referee Chris Kavanagh that the Norwegian hadn't done it deliberately, despite halting the passage of play, with Coote at Stockley Park agreeing.

"Yes, I have seen it," Klopp fumed afterwards. "I am pretty sure someone will come to explain it to me why it was not a handball but I don't know how?

"I don't say that the ref can see it because I don't know where he was in that moment. But how can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe, possibly, it could be worth the referee having another look?"

Coote last took charge of Liverpool on Saturday, when the Reds claimed a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. They are now five points clear of closest challengers Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.