Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following the circulation of a video allegedly showing him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool FC and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp. The suspension is effective immediately as an investigation is conducted.

Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s recent 2-0 victory over Aston Villa and has been a prominent referee in the Premier League since 2018. The video in question appears to reference a match between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020 that ended in a 1-1 draw, during which Klopp voiced criticism of Coote’s officiating for not calling fouls on challenges against Liverpool players.

In the video, a man who is said to be Coote discusses Klopp’s post-match comments, calling the former Liverpool manager “arrogant” and using profanities. The video, lasting just over a minute, shows the man in conversation with another individual. The origin and context of the video remain unknown.

PGMOL has stated it will refrain from further comment until the investigation is concluded.

Vinicius Jr shone with a brilliant hat-trick as Real Madrid triumphed 4-0 over Osasuna, a victory clouded by Eder Militao’s severe knee injury. The Brazilian defender suffered a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear involving both menisci in his right leg after an awkward landing during a corner. His agonizing exit on a stretcher marked a significant setback for the team. Militao’s place was filled by 21-year-old Raul Asencio, making his Real debut.

Real Madrid confirmed that Militao will undergo surgery in the coming days. Manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed concern about the strain on players, noting, “Three injuries in the first half is quite rare. The demands of the schedule do not allow players to rest and be fresh. The risk of injuries is higher. It is a general thing, not just for us.”

Despite these issues, Vinicius Jr spearheaded Madrid’s attack. He opened the scoring by cutting in from the left and finding the far corner past goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Jude Bellingham doubled the lead, showcasing finesse as he controlled Asencio’s impressive long ball and chipped it over Herrera.

Vinicius secured his second after the break with help from a perfect long pass by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, rounding Herrera for an easy finish. The Brazilian completed his hat-trick following a quick assist from substitute Brahim Diaz, who had intercepted Osasuna’s Enzo Boyomo.

However, Real’s win was marred by further injuries. Rodrygo limped off after 20 minutes, and Lucas Vazquez couldn’t continue beyond halftime. This adds to a growing injury list that includes Dani Carvajal, sidelined with an ACL tear, and David Alaba, also recovering from a knee issue.

Real Madrid’s dominant win places them six points behind leaders Barcelona, who could extend their lead when they face Real Sociedad on Sunday at 20:00 GMT.

Neymar has reassured fans after picking up a new injury during his second match back for Al-Hilal, following a year-long recovery. The 32-year-old Brazilian striker was taken off in the 86th minute of Al-Hilal’s 3-0 Asian Champions League Elite victory over Esteghlal on Monday.

Describing the discomfort, Neymar said, “It felt like a cramp, only very strong. I’m going to have some tests and I hope it’s nothing too serious.” He shared this on Instagram, adding, “It’s normal for this to happen after a year. The doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes.”

The injury scare comes after Neymar spent a year recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. Since transferring from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal in August 2023, he has featured in only seven matches for the Saudi Arabian club.