Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended after video emerged of him calling Jurgen Klopp a ‘German cunt’ and Liverpool a ‘shit’.

According to the clip that appeared on social media on Monday, Coote claimed Klopp was “arrogant” and accused him of lying after a 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Burnley during Project Restart in 2020. Coote took charge of the 2-0 Liverpool win against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Professional Game Match Officials Ltd said: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will make no further comment until that process is complete.”

The video appears to date from the 2020-2021 season. The person alleged to be Coote is asked by a friend for his opinion of Klopp, the then Liverpool manager, and says: “Apart from right-winging me when I rejected them against Burnley in lockdown, he then accused me of lying and and then I just got hit on me. I don’t feel like talking to someone who’s damn arrogant. So I try my best not to talk to him… My God, German cunt, fuck me.”

The derogatory comment about Liverpool refers to the team’s performance in a match earlier that day according to the video, in which Coote was the fourth official.

The friend, who appears to be recording the conversation on his phone in a sparsely furnished sitting room, goes on to explain what he believes is the conclusion of the conversation: “Long story short: Jurgen Klopp is a cunt, Liverpool are all f***ing bellends. and we hate Scousers.

In a separate video, Coote appears to ask viewers not to share the original recording. “Just to be clear, that last video isn’t going anywhere, seriously,” he says. The friend says: “He’s a referee in the Premier League, let’s not ruin anyone’s career. We’re not that bad.”

In the first video, the person believed to be Coote holds up a still that appears to show him on October 4, 2020, on the touchline with Klopp and James Milner, during Liverpool’s 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa. In Liverpool’s next match, Coote was the video assistant referee when a challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk, which left the Liverpool defender with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, went unpunished.

Coote also drew the ire of Klopp when VAR was called for the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Arsenal last December after an apparent handball in the penalty area by Martin Ødegaard failed to result in a penalty. PGMOL chief referee Howard Webb later said this should have resulted in a penalty.

It is understood that Liverpool feel it is inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. The Transfermarkt website states that Coote has refereed eight Liverpool games, seven of which while Klopp was present, starting with the match against Burnley. Liverpool have won five, drawn one and lost two – against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and Brighton in the FA Cup.

Although Klopp felt the absence of VAR affected Liverpool’s defeat to City, he did not criticize Coote or question the referees after the Brighton match. Brighton felt they were on the wrong side of two decisions towards the end that might have led to red cards for the late winner.