New allegations surrounding Premier League referee David Coote are being taken “very seriously”, says the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL).
Coote was suspended by the PGMOL — the organisation that manages English football’s leading officials — on Monday after a video emerged online of him making offensive remarks about Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager.
On Wednesday night, The Sun published a video which showed someone they claimed was Coote sniffing white powder through a rolled-up American bank note.
The Sun reported that the video was from July 6, one day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal in Hamburg where Coote was the support VAR.
The Athletic has been unable to verify the video nor confirm Coote’s identity, but the PGMOL responded when asked to provide comment on it.
“We are aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously,” a spokesperson for the PGMOL said. “David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.
“David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.
“We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
UEFA has also suspended Coote from refereeing in its competitions “until further notice”. The 42-year-old was suspended on November 11, two days before The Sun released its video, by European football’s governing body.
“The UEFA Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November – in advance of the upcoming round of UEFA matches – when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour,” a UEFA statement read.
Coote is also subject to an FA investigation for a potential breach of its rules in relation to his comments about Klopp.
The Athletic has attempted to contact Coote for comment.
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