Tearful David Coote apologises for calling Jurgen Klopp ‘a German c**t’ insisting he ‘wasn’t sober’ during rant
Tearful David Coote apologises for calling Jurgen Klopp ‘a German c**t’ insisting he ‘wasn’t sober’ during rant
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DAVID Coote has made a tearful apology to ex-Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp and “anybody who I’ve offended by my actions”. The now-axed referee made headlines worldwide when footage emerged of him calling Klopp a “German c***”. Emotional Coote admits that he “was not sober” at the time but knew he was being recorded during Covid in 2020 when social distancing meant large gatherings were forbidden.
![[Referee David Coote speaking.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/referee-david-coote-speaks-stephen-967018996_9acf04.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The official has also declared in video chats that Liverpool “will not win the Premier League” this season. And he branded the Reds’ defender and Scotland captain Andy Robertson a “Scottish p****.”. Coote said: “I want to apologise to anybody who I've offended by my actions.
![[Jurgen Klopp arguing with a match official.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/b76e7701-0f3e-47ee-9e17-2a477e7224e6.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“I recognise that they fell well short of standards that are expected of a top level referee and I deeply regret saying what I said.”. He went on: “That video has been with somebody for more than four years. “I’d forgotten it existed and I was sitting waiting for my car to be serviced and then received a call to say that it had surfaced on social media and I was devastated.”.
![[Soccer referee showing a yellow card.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/referee-david-coote-shows-yellow-952384725_2730d9.jpg?strip=all&w=773)
Remorseful Coote added: “I deeply regret that I found myself in that position. The comments are not reflective of my views of any of the individuals concerned or my wider views in general.”. Reflecting on his row with Klopp — who criticised him after he had refereed a 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020 — Coote said: “The football industry is really tough for everybody who’s involved.
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