Man Utd fans sing chant about David Coote’s criticism of Klopp during defeat at Huddersfield

Man Utd fans sing a chant about David Coote’s gone viral criticism of Jurgen Klopp during the EFL Trophy defeat at Huddersfield.

Some fans from the away end sung a song referencing the controversy involving Premier League referee David Coote and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

This chant was in response to a video that circulated online, where Coote allegedly made derogatory remarks about both Liverpool and Klopp, calling Klopp “fucking arrogant” and a “German c***.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by For the Football fans 🍻 (@ukfootyfans)

David Coote reminds me of the kid that got bullied at school who grew up to become a bitter and twisted human being

I utterly despise the man pic.twitter.com/DZD1qoUayZ

— SECTION 128 (@BradYNWA6) November 11, 2024

Ben Wiles opened the scoring for the Terriers, before Victor Musa levelled the scoreline in first half. Rhys Healey, David Kasumu and Tom Lees all found the net after the break to give Huddersfield a 4-1 victory in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage fixture.

Huddersfield XI (3-4-1-2): Jacob Chapman; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik (Danny Ward 66’), Nigel Lonwijk; Ollie Turton, Tom Iorpenda (David Kasumu 20’), Herbie Kane, Mickel Miller; Ben Wiles; Bojan Radulovic (Danny Ward ’66), Rhys Healey (Freddie Ladapo 73’)

Unused subs: Chris Maxwell, Francis Hurl; Jaheim Headley

Man Utd XI: Mee; Ogunneye (Moorhouse 76), Kingdon, Fredricson (c), Malacia (Amass 46); Kone (McAllister 41), Fitzgerald (Mather 76), Rowe; Ennis, Musa, Williams (Missin 65).

Unused subs: Graczyk (GK), Jackson.

Booked: Kasumu 71, Kane 78, Miller 84 | Kone 36, Kingdon 90+2.

Goals: Wiles 29, Healey 66, Kasumu 90, Lees 90+7 | Musa 43.

The Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation following the emergence of a video that appears to show Premier League referee David Coote making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

David Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after the video surfaced where he allegedly used foul language to describe Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, specifically referring to Klopp’s German nationality in a derogatory manner.

The FA has initiated its own investigation into the matter, focusing particularly on the remarks concerning nationality, as such comments could constitute an aggravated breach of FA rules. This is significant because the FA’s rules include provisions against references to race, coloUr, ethnic origin, or nationality in a derogatory context.

There’s a broader discussion about the impact of such incidents on the integrity of refereeing, with concerns that it might fuel theories among fans regarding referee bias.

As of the latest updates, both the PGMOL and the FA are conducting investigations. The PGMOL has suspended Coote pending a full investigation, and no further comments will be made until the process is complete. Similarly, the FA has confirmed they are aware of the matter and are investigating.

He stands to lose his job as a Select Group 1 referee, with the role paying him at least £100,000 a year.

PGMOL chief Webb broke his silence after appearing on Sky Sports show Mic’d Up, insisting his organisation are taking Coote’s video “very seriously.”

He said: “We became aware of a video that was being circulated on social media that we are taking very seriously.

“We’ve instigated a full investigation. One of our referees, David Coote, has been suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of that investigation.

“There’s not much more I can say at this stage until we’ve worked through that investigation.”

Former referee Mike Dean has commented on the situation, indicating that this could damage the perception of referees’ professionalism, although he believes Coote might be able to return to refereeing if he wishes, depending on the investigation’s outcome.

Mike Dean said: “I don’t think he’s damaged his career beyond repair. I’d like to think that because it’s one of these things that’s never happened before, I don’t know what line the PGMOL will go down.

“They obviously need to get the correct investigation in place, where the source of the video came from, get David’s full story about what’s going on. I’d like to think that they can come to some kind of agreement, and it also depends as well on what’s gone on with David with all this media attention.

“Would David still want to carry on refereeing? That’s the bigger picture you’ve got to think of, because it doesn’t affect just David. It affects his friends and his family as well, so does he want to put himself through it yet again to come back in?

“Obviously it will be hard to come back in and start again, whether it’s in the Championship or Football League to start with and then get back into the Premier League, but it will be a hard step for him to come back.

“It’s damaging for everybody involved. When I saw it yesterday I couldn’t believe it, when someone sent me the message to say ‘have a look at this’. You can look at it two or three times before you realise, crikey, who it is and what’s going on and what’s been said.

“I think all the way from the top down to the bottom, I’m talking right down to the bottom, it will devastate referees from grassroots all the way to the Football League, people trying to get onto that level. You’ve just got to be so careful about what you say, and it’s so out of character for David to do. I was astounded when I saw it.

“As referees you can’t put yourself in that position no matter what you do. You can say things away from camera, you can talk amongst your friends and things and colleagues, but you can’t let somebody video this and then hope that it’s never going to come out.”

Dean added that he had a text message exchange with Coote, who he remembered as “one of the quieter referees in the group” but would not reveal the nature of the exchange.

“He’ll be devastated, it’s damaging for everyone involved” 💬

Former referee Mike Dean shares his thoughts after David Coote was suspended by the PGMOL yesterday. pic.twitter.com/8UEXNESki5

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 12, 2024

Henry Winter @gave his take on the situation: “The David Coote story is a question of trust. Referees have to be careful of who they trust around them. It’s naïve and risky to voice critical thoughts, and plain thick to do so if aware you’re being recorded. Careless talk costs careers. It’s also a question of fans, players and managers having trust in referees. A mix of paranoia and tribalism has produced a sulphurous reaction that PGMOL has to tackle to protect the image of the game. It’s obviously right to order swiftly a full investigation into the video circulating on social media and give Coote a chance to explain/defend himself and address the allegation of any agenda. Many fans believe refs generally have it in for their teams; this is not a one-club issue. It’s certainly not a great generation of officials, the game’s got faster, there’s more grappling and simulation, and the scrutiny and abuse is more intense than ever.

“They’re trying to improve standards via further investment in grass-roots refereeing, fast-tracking ex-players and academy graduates who don’t make the grade and specialist VARs. But even more is required, as is clamping down on the abuse young refs get in grass-roots from parents, coaches, players that put them off continuing.

“As for recruiting foreign refs, they’re not perfect, and some do get criticised in their own leagues. More match-day accountability and transparency, properly explaining decisions, is needed here, not waiting a fortnight for Howard Webb to be “mic’d up”. Communication matters. So does trust.”