The Allegations and 'Aggravated Breach'
The FA's charge alleges that Coote "acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words" in a video recorded around July 2020. More significantly, the governing body contends that Coote's actions constitute an "aggravated breach" of its rules, as the comments "included a reference — whether express or implied — to nationality." This type of breach is taken particularly seriously by the FA, as it pertains to discriminatory remarks.
The controversy erupted when two videos, apparently filmed on a phone, circulated on social media. In the clips, Coote appeared to be giving his personal opinion on Liverpool and its then-manager, Jürgen Klopp, in response to questions from an unidentified individual. During these exchanges, Coote used an expletive to describe Liverpool and a derogatory term for Klopp, stating his dislike for the German manager due to his perceived "arrogance" and an instance where Klopp "accused me of lying" after a match. Specifically, Coote called Klopp a "German c***" and "f****** arrogant", and also referred to Liverpool as "s***".
Disciplinary Action and Further Investigations
Coote was initially suspended following the emergence of the videos. He was subsequently fired in December 2024, with English soccer’s referees body deeming his position "untenable" after an internal investigation into his conduct.
This is not the only investigation Coote has faced. The FA also probed allegations, reported by British newspaper The Sun, that he discussed with a fan the possibility of issuing a yellow card to a player in a match. However, the FA announced on Tuesday that no charges were issued in relation to that particular investigation, with Coote having denied any wrongdoing.
Separately, UEFA, European football's governing body, launched its own investigation into Coote. This probe followed another video, also published by The Sun, which allegedly showed him using cocaine during the European Championship this year. In an interview in January, Coote came out as gay and stated that hiding his sexuality contributed to his outburst about Klopp and his drug use. He also claimed he was "not sober" during the Klopp rant and has since sought therapy to address drug use. UEFA subsequently banned Coote until June 30, 2026, for bringing the sport into disrepute.