Ben Kitt, a former Nottinghamshire cricketer, has been suspended “on full pay” after his involvement in a controversial video with Premier League referee David Coote.
The video, which surfaced recently, shows Kitt encouraging Coote to speak openly about his views on Liverpool FC and manager Jurgen Klopp in an exchange that has now led to repercussions for both men. Coote, a match official, is also currently suspended as the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) investigates his comments.
The video appears to date back to the lockdown period, with Kitt urging Coote to share his thoughts on Liverpool and Klopp. During the exchange, Coote can be heard making derogatory remarks about Klopp, referring to him with an offensive term and labeling Liverpool players unfavorably. Kitt, in turn, is heard encouraging Coote to be candid, while also cautioning viewers not to “ruin” Coote’s career by circulating the video widely.
Kitt, now 29, has not played professional cricket since he departed from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in 2018. Currently employed at Forsyth Barnes, a recruitment consultancy, Kitt has been temporarily suspended as his employer looks into his involvement in the incident. Forsyth Barnes co-founder Roheel Ahmad confirmed the suspension and expressed the company’s commitment to investigating the situation fully. Ahmad acknowledged that the video was recorded before Kitt joined the company, but emphasized that they were taking the matter seriously.
In a statement to Telegraph Sport, Ahmad commented: “Forsyth Barnes understands that the leaked video of David Coote includes one of its employees, Ben Kitt. This is something that we are taking very seriously and we have suspended Ben on full pay while we investigate further.”
The Forsyth Barnes co-founder highlighted Kitt’s record at the company, stating that Kitt has shown dedication and maturity since joining the team. Ahmad added, “In his time with the business, Ben has demonstrated a strong work ethic and dedication to his career. He has matured considerably and grown into a responsible young man.” Ahmad also stated that, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comments would be made at this time.
The video’s explicit content has generated controversy, not only due to Coote’s language but also because Kitt encouraged him to share his thoughts. In the clip, Kitt prompts Coote by asking, “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were 4th official?” He follows up with, “Why would you say Jurgen Klopp was a [explicit term]?” Coote then proceeds to express his dislike for Klopp and Liverpool, calling Klopp a “c***t” and referring to Liverpool players with additional derogatory terms.
At one point, Kitt is heard telling those watching, “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f*g ruin his career. Let’s face it, we’re good blokes, but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad.” Despite this, the video was eventually leaked, resulting in the current investigation.
As the head of PGMOL, Howard Webb has refrained from commenting extensively on the situation. In a recent appearance on the show Mic’d Up, Webb confirmed that an investigation was underway, and further details would be provided once the process is complete. “There’s not much more I can say at this stage until we work through that investigation,” Webb said.
The case has raised questions about the professional conduct of public figures and sparked significant media attention. Both Kitt and Coote await the outcomes of their respective investigations.
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