Premier League referee David Coote has been sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
The PGMOL announced this in a statement on Monday, December 9, 2024.
A video, which remains unverified, appearing to show Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp was widely circulated on social media last month.
Coote, 42, was initially suspended by the PGMOL and the FA launched its investigation.
The PGMOL investigation also covered a second video which emerged last month, appearing to show Coote allegedly snorting a white powder, 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, in a statement on Monday, said a thorough investigation concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.
The PGMOL stated: “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.
FA probes Premier League referee Coote for betting
“Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.
“Supporting Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.
“Coote has a 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.
It was alleged that 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.
He 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, Sky Sports reported.
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