Howard Webb has broken his silence over video footage purportedly involving David Coote after the Premier League referee was suspended from duty.

Just over 24 hours ago on Monday, top-flight referee Coote was suspended by PGMOL pending an investigation into video footage appearing to show the 42-year-old using foul language to describe Liverpool and their former boss Jurgen Klopp.

In the leaked video footage which lasts around two minutes in total, Coote appeared to call the Reds “s***” and Klopp a c***”. It is understood Coote does not recall the incident in question.

Webb, who is technical director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), made his regular appearance on Sky Sports’ Match Officials Mic’d Up show alongside presenter Leon Osman to discuss refereeing decisions.

During Tuesday evening’s broadcast, PGMOL chief Webb chose to address Coote’s suspension immediately after the programme had started before they reviewed incidents from the weekend’s action.

He began by making a statement, in which he said: “We were made aware there’s a video being circulated on social media that we are taking very seriously.

“We’ve instigated a full investigation, our referee 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.”

Coote has reportedly accepted the footage of him is genuine, which was recorded back in 2020. He is also facing an investigation from the Football Association over his alleged use of the term “German c***” to describe Klopp.

Following his suspension from PGMOL, UEFA have also acted swiftly to drop Coote from his scheduled assignment to officiate a Nations League fixture.

Coote had recently taken the role of VAR official for the Champions League clash between PSV Eindhoven and Girona. But the Nottinghamshire official now faces being kept off the field until the investigation into his alleged comments is concluded.

His last fixture on the pitch came as recently as Saturday when Coote was appointed to oversee Liverpool‘s 2-0 win over Aston Villa. The official has overseen professional games in England since 2014 and became a top-flight referee four years later.