Premier League referee David Coote is reported to have accepted that the video in which he allegedly used foul language towards Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp is genuine.
The shock footage emerged on social media on Monday afternoon, quickly spreading and causing a storm that led to Coote being immediately suspended pending an investigation from Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL).
There was initial uncertainty as to whether it was genuine amid the possibility of AI trickery.
But as more details have emerged, the Daily Mirror has reported that Coote has accepted it is not fake. However, given that the video is several years old, the suggestion is that he does not recall the content of what was being discussed.
PGMOL have stated that aside from Coote, who became a full-time Premier League referee in 2018 after eight years officiating in the EFL, being suspended, there will be no further update until their investigation has been concluded. The FA is also investigating the incident.
Coote’s refereeing career could now be on the line.
The 42-year-old is alleged to have said: “Liverpool were s**t”, as well as describing Klopp, who left the Reds at the end of last season, as an “absolute c***”.
It could be heard: “Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop at me.
“I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. My god, German c***, f*** me.”
The other man in the video finishes the video by saying: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c****, Liverpool are all f***ing bellends and we hate Scousers.”
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