Ex-Notts cricket player suspended after alleged sweary rant with David Coote

A former Nottinghamshire cricket player has been suspended by his current employer following the resurfacing of an alleged sweary video alongside Nottinghamshire-born Premier League referee David Coote. The leaked video allegedly pictures Coote and ex-Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club player Ben Kitt talking about a Liverpool game.

After Coote is allegedly heard calling Liverpool "s***" and Jurgen Klopp a "German c***" during the rant, Kitt appears to round up Coote's comments. He allegedly says: "Jurgen Klopp's a c***, Liverpool are all f****** b******* and we hate Scousers."

Coote then allegedly says: "Just to be clear, that f****** last video can't go anywhere. Seriously." Kitt then appears to respond: "He's a Premier League referee, let's not f******* ruin his career."

After the leak became viral on social media, Kitt's current employer, Forsyth Barnes, an executive search firm with offices on Friar Lane in Nottingham, and in London and New York, has confirmed Kitt, a principal recruitment consultant at the firm, has been suspended. The company added that it is now investigating the matter.

Roheel Ahmad, co-founder of Forsyth Barnes, told Nottinghamshire Live: "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.

"Although we are still in the process of gathering all the facts, we do know for certain that the video was taken some years before Ben became an employee of Forsyth Barnes. 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.

"To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, Forsyth Barnes will not be making any further comments." Kitt, originally from Plymouth, Devon, earned his first professional contract in Nottinghamshire ahead of the 2017 season.

The Cornishman claimed more than 100 wickets in 2016 in matches for the academy and the seconds in his time at Nottinghamshire Country Cricket Club. He then left at the end of the 2018 season. The video, which was leaked on Monday, November 11, appears to show Coote and Kitt having a rant while sitting on a sofa during the pandemic.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has released a stement that reads: "David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete."