Premier League official David Coote has been sacked by referees’ body the PGMOL following a “thorough investigation” into his conduct.
Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL (the Professional Game Match Officials Limited) on 11 November pending a full investigation after a video allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager Jurgen Klopp was circulated on social media.
The PGMOL investigation was opened two days later after the Sun published photos it. A further investigation also covered a second video which emerged last month, appearing to show Coote allegedly snorting a white powder through a rolled up US bank note, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament.
European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.
The PGMOL confirmed the termination of Coote’s employment in a statement on Monday afternoon, saying that a thorough investigation concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.
The PGMOL said Coote’s actions made his position “untenable”.
“Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect,” a PGMOL statement read.
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“David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.
“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.
“David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”
Coote has the right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.
The FA is also separately investigating an allegation – strenuously denied by Coote – that he discussed the prospect of giving a Leeds player a yellow card with a fan prior to a match in an online conversation. The Sun alleges after Coote booked the player, he messaged the individual back to say: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
The FA said it was investigating the allegation as “a matter of urgency”.
Coote refuted the allegations he discussed giving a yellow card before a match.
Coote said: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
PGMOL’s investigation did not look at the allegation relating to the Leeds yellow card.
