David Coite's Problematic Referee Gets Additional Punishment From The FA

The FA gave referee David Cotte additional punishment for the case of insulting former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (doc. FA).

JAKARTA - Former Premier League referee David Cotte was sentenced to eight weeks of competition and asked to attend the education program.

Cotte was indicted by the English Football Association (FA) in June 2025 after his harsh comments about former Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp were revealed in a video circulating on social media in November 2024.

The FA said that Cotte later acknowledged the allegations.

Cotte's bad behavior is defined as a serious violation under FA regulations because there are references to Klopp citizenship.

Previously, Cotte had been fired by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) - the agency responsible for organizing the England professional football referee - in December 2024, a month after the video recorded in July 2020 was revealed.

PGMOL, in confirmation of Coote's dismissal, said that his position could not be maintained.

In the tape, Cotte - who was the fourth referee in Liverpool's game in the summer of 2020 - was heard saying "sial" and calling Klopp a "cheamous German". He also said Klopp was "very arrogant".

When the FA charged him with comment on Klopp in June 2025, the federation said Coote would face no further action over separate charges of gambling offenses, which he has strongly denied.

Even so, the FA said the allegations had been thoroughly investigated.

Cotte is blacklisted by UEFA for the February 2025 to June 30, 2026 after another video showing him smoking white powder through paper money while in Germany on duty at Euro 2024 last summer.

Another controversy, in January 2025, Cotte admitted to being gay in an interview with The Sun and said that his lifelong struggle to hide sexuality had contributed to hisomel about Klopp, and drug use.

"Seksualitas saya bukan satu-satunya yang membawa saya ke posisi itu. Namun, saya tidak akan menceritakan kisah yang authentication jika saya tidak mengatakan bahwa saya gay dan bahwa saya benar-benar kesulit menyelahinya."

"I hide my emotions as a young referee. I also hide my sexuality - a good quality as a referee, but poor quality as a human being. It has led me to a series of negative behaviors," he said.

Coote's official response to the FA allegations was detailed on written grounds of the regulatory commission published in conjunction with confirmation of sanctions imposed.

He admitted that his words about Klopp were rude, inappropriate, and inappropriate for the role he held in football. He asked the commission to accept that his decision not to attend the trial was not due to avoidance, but because of his mental condition.

Cotte said the words did not respect his true views on Klopp, which he has always respected professionally.

"DC (Coote) stated that he felt very embarrassed. He has lost the career that shaped his identity."

"He has lost all of his income and the media's attention has deepened his shame and despair."

"He tried to reunite his life, from a point where it almost completely collapsed," read a statement from the FA trial panel, reported by ESPN.