Who is David Coote? Famous dad, Premier League suspension and Liverpool contact

David Coote has been suspended pending an investigation after a video was posted on social media which appears to show him using highly offensive language about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as "s***". He then uses an offensive term to describe Klopp, and asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had "a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown" and had accused him of lying.

However, It is unclear when the video was made or how it came into circulation. But the PGMOL confirmed on Monday afternoon that Coote has been suspended pending an investigation.

READ MORE: Man United news LIVE: Ruben Amorim arrives at Carrington, first task explained, visa delay

READ MORE: First pictures of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United as new head coach arrives in England

But who is David Coote?

Coote, 42, is a Notts County fan and started refereeing as a 16-year-old in Nottinghamshire, working his way from the Notts Alliance League to the National League and EFL. His father, also called David Coote, played professional cricket for Nottinghamshire.

Premier League promotion

Having been promoted to the list of EFL referees in 2010, Coote took charge of the 2014 League One play-off final at Wembley as Rotherham beat Leyton Orient on penalties. Coote was promoted to officiate in the Premier League in April 2018, taking charge of West Brom's win over Newcastle.

A few months later, Coote was promoted to the Premier League's Select Group 1 - the top band for English referees. Coote was the man in the middle for Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Burnley in July 2020 when Andy Robertson and Klopp appeared to voice their anger at him after the match.

"How can you let it happen that a goalie, constantly when a corner comes in, that three players are allowed to block him?" Klopp said at the time.

"That is not how it should be. But obviously for the ref it was not a foul or not a problem and that is why he didn’t whistle in these situations. That is what I told him but it had no influence on the result I realised later."

A matter of months later, Coote was the video assistant referee when Jordan Pickford escaped a card for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk - which left the defender with an anterior cruciate ligament injury - in October 2020.

"It was a clear penalty I saw and then we saw the flag went up, I thought they would still look at the foul but that didn’t happen," said Klopp. "I don’t want to say Jordan Pickford wanted to do it but it is not a challenge a goalie can do in the box."

Coote was also the VAR during Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Arsenal last December when the Reds were denied a penalty after Martin Odegaard touched the ball with his hand inside the area. Howard Webb, the head of the PGMOL, admitted that referee Chris Kavanagh and Coote were wrong not to award a penalty. Most recently, Coote refereed Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

What have Liverpool said?

The PGMOL and the FA have both confirmed they are investigating the video. Liverpool have also been contacted for comment; however, the club are yet to release any sort of statement.