REFS chief Howard Webb has broken his silence over David Coote’s X-rated leaked video.
Premier League official Coote has been suspended after he labelled former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a “German c**t” on camera.
Referee body PGMOL have launched an investigation into the footage, with the FA also conducting their own probe.
And SunSport can exclusively reveal that Coote is expected to quit before he is sacked.
PGMOL chief Webb was forced to break his silence after appearing on Sky Sports show Mic’d Up last night.
And he insisted his organisation are taking Coote’s video “very seriously.”
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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.”
The sensational minute-long clip looks set to end Coote’s career and cost him a fortune in lost earnings.
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He stands to lose his job as a Select Group 1 referee that pays him at least £100,000 a year.
Fifa are also looking into his part-time position with them.
And he has already been booted off Uefa’s matchlist for a Nations League game during the current international break.
Referencing Klopp’s nationality also means Coote faces stiffer sanctions from a potential aggravated misconduct charge.
And the Nottinghamshire official has no hope of keeping a role within the PGMOL once he hangs up his whistle — like many of his peers.
A source told SunSport: “He’s looking at more than a million quid down the drain there when you add it all up.”
Shocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
