PGMOL launch investigation after alleged David Coote X-rated rant at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) is investigating a video circulating online that appears to show an expletive-laden rant from Premier League referee David Coote against Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The footage, which emerged on social media on Monday, appears to show Coote calling Liverpool "s**t" and Klopp a "c**t".

Coote was the match referee in the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Aston Villa on Saturday evening when the Reds won 2-0 to go five points clear at the top of the table heading into the international break.

In a video that was seemingly filmed during the lockdown period for coronavirus in 2020, Coote is asked by an unidentified associate what he made of a Liverpool game at which he was recently fourth official. A photo shown later in the video on Coote's phone suggests it was the 7-2 Premier League loss at Aston Villa in October of that year.

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"Liverpool were s***," the video appears to show saying Coote.

And when then asked for his view on Klopp, the reply in the video says: "A c**t, an absolute (unintelligible). Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, when he accused me of lying the just had a right f***ing pop at me, I've got no interest in speaking to somebody who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. (James) Milner is all right.

"But, my God, a German c***t, f*** me."

In a second video on social media, Coote appears to state: "Just to be clear, that last f***ing video can't go anywhere, seriously."

A statement from the PGMOL on Monday afternoon read: "PGMOL are aware of a video circulating on social media and are investigating."

This is a breaking story. More will follow soon.