Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) gestures to fourth official Mike Dean during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England FILE. Another official’s criticism of former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp (pictured right) has once again come to light. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP
WARNING: This story contains graphic language.
Following English Premier League referee David Coote’s expletive-laden video going viral, another official’s criticism of former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has once again come to light.
England’s Football Association (FA) on Tuesday said it was investigating the video of Coote after his derogatory remarks in a video were widely circulated.
Coote was suspended on Monday by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) following the emergence of the video.
In the video, an intoxicated-looking Coote can be heard saying that "Liverpool were sh*t", and that the club’s former manager Klopp was a "c*nt“.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg wrote in his memoir ‘Whistle Blower’ about Klopp when he said: 'Jurgen Klopp. Brilliant manager. Sour loser.”
Clattenburg also detailed an encounter in 2017 when he arrived in the Liverpool changeroom with Reds player Jordan Henderson and Klopp staring down the referee.
“It was bizarre. I just stared back. I could see Jordan was a bit, like, "What the hell's going on here?" Did Klopp think I was stupid? I was not going to be bullied.”
It’s not unusual, however, for football coaches to use their position of power to intimidate officials. Legendary Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson was also guilty of the same kind of behaviour according Clattenburg.
“It was intimidating. I have no shame in admitting that,” said Clattenburg about his encounters with Ferguson.
While the comments of Coote appear to be genuine, after the FA confirms this it could prove a toxic turn for football fans. It will only serve to reinforce fan theories that certain referees have biases, and that’s without considering the effect it will have on players and coaches.
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