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Who is David Coote? Premier League referee angered Jurgen Klopp with VAR decision
A video has circulated on social media appearing to show Premier League referee David Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and its former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coote first refereed a game in the English top flight in April 2018. The first Reds match of which he took charge occurred after Liverpool had won the 2019/20 title, a 1-1 Anfield draw against Burnley behind closed doors in July 2020.
Coote, who was born in Nottinghamshire, had previously officiated in the Football League. He has also been handed a series of high-profile matches over the years, including the EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle in 2023.
In the Premier League, he has been involved in far more Reds games as Video Assistant Referee rather than as the man in the middle on the field. While managers obviously hate all decisions which go against them, there was one Coote made from Stockley Park in a Merseyside derby which particularly irked Klopp.
Coote was the VAR for a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in October 2020. Despite the ground being devoid of supporters thanks to the pandemic, the match was very hotly contested. Liverpool lost both Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara to serious injuries, the former suffering to the extent that he missed the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
The Reds’ next match was a Champions League clash with Ajax in Amsterdam. Ahead of that game, Klopp voiced his frustration at what had unfolded in the Everton clash.
"A few days ago something that should not have happened in a football game, happened," he said (via Sky Sports). "It was not the first time and it won't be the last, but both challenges were difficult to accept.
"We can't change this now. I spoke the day after and it's hard for us as Virgil is our boy. It is difficult to take because the referee doesn't see it.
"Michael Oliver is an excellent referee but he had the best view. Then VAR [Coote] forgets the rules. As a human, I don't want to see Everton players punished, but we all agree if you do something wrong, you have to deal with consequences.
"Right now there are only two people suffering with the consequences and they are Virgil and Thiago,” Klopp concluded. His successor Arne Slot has also been angered by Coote, who refereed Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. Despite Mohamed Salah being brought down when clean through, play was waved on. Fortunately for the Reds, Darwin Nunez was able to score.
Equally, Coote might have awarded a penalty when Conor Bradley held Pau Torres’ shirt in the Reds’ box later in the game, but opted against doing so. Nonetheless, he certainly won’t be getting a Christmas card from Klopp next month.
