Premier League Referee David Cotte Diskors After Allegedly Insulting Liverpool And Jurgen Klopp

JAKARTA - Premier League referee David Cotte has been suspended pending a full investigation into his video circulating on social media.

The video shows Cotte making insulting comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.

Two clips were uploaded on X's account showing Cotte sitting on the sofa, next to an unknown man, asking questions about Liverpool and Klopp.

The English Football Federation (FA) said it was aware of the matter and was conducting its own investigation.

If the video is verified as genuine, Cotte, who was the referee for Liverpool's 2-0 win at Anfield over Aston Villa on Saturday, November 9, 2024, doesn't seem to have a future as the top referee.

There will be no further updates from PGMOL (British Football Referee Agency) until the investigation is complete.

Conote will not be available to be selected as a referee or VAR (Video Assistant Referee) during the suspension time.

The 42-year-old coote has been a referee for the Premier League since 2018. He has led the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United vs Newcastle United.

He is a referee registered with FIFA between 2020 and 2022.

Although not on the UEFA referee list, he and Stuart Attwell were once the main VAR and were appointed to Euro 2024.

Meanwhile, it is not clear when the video was recorded. However, in the video there is a reference about Cotte being the fourth referee in the previous Liverpool match when it was still during the corona pandemic.

When asked about Liverpool's performance in the match, Cotte replied, "Liverpool is annoying."

He was then asked about Klopp and replied, "It really sucks."

When asked why he thought so, Cotte added, "In addition to cursing me when I was a referee against Burnley during the lockdown, he accused me of lying and then cursing me".

"I am not interested in talking to someone who is arrogant. So, I try my best not to talk to him. (James) Milner is fine," he said again.

Cotte is known from the data that he led Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Burnley in July 2020.

Temporary suspicion, the video was recorded during the lockdown because Cotte then showed a photo of himself wearing a mask on the sidelines during Liverpool's match.

"You can see me there wearing a (mask). Covid, it has to be done. Keep social distancing, right? We are 10 meters away," he said.

Cotte then added another reference that appeared to refer to Klopp.

"However, oh my goodness. German are stupid. Give it up," he said again.

Others next to Cotte then said, "In short, Jurgen Klopp is a mess, Liverpool is a mess, and we hate Scousers (as natives of Liverpool)."

The second shorter video shows Cotte saying, "To be clear, the last video cannot continue, seriously."

The person next to Cotte then replied, "He's a Premier League referee, don't destroy his career. Let's just admit it, we are good people."

"However, we cannot destroy someone's career. We are not that bad. He is also a legend. So, don't destroy his career," he said.