Referee David Coote has been officially dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a series of serious allegations that surfaced last month. The decision comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny surrounding his conduct, particularly after a video, which has yet to be verified, circulated on social media, apparently showing Coote making derogatory remarks about Liverpool Football Club and its former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
David Coote, who is 42 years old, was initially suspended by the PGMOL as the investigation into his actions began. Concurrently, the Football Association (FA) launched its own inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this troubling situation. Another video emerged during the investigation that raised further concerns; it alleged to show Coote snorting a white powder, reportedly during Euro 2024, wherein he was serving as one of the assistant Video Assistant Referees (VARs).
In response to these allegations, UEFA, the governing body for European football, appointed an ethics investigator to conduct a thorough review of the case. The findings from the PGMOL’s investigation ultimately led to the termination of Coote’s employment. In an official statement released on Monday afternoon, PGMOL noted that their comprehensive investigation concluded that Coote had “seriously breached the provisions of his employment contract,” rendering his position as a referee untenable.
The full statement from the PGMOL elaborated, “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect. 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.”
In addition to the above, the FA is separately investigating allegations that Coote discussed the possibility of issuing a yellow card to a Leeds player with a fan in an online exchange before a match, a claim vehemently denied by Coote. Reports from The Sun suggest that after booking the player in question, Coote allegedly messaged the same individual, implying he hoped they had made a bet based on their earlier discussion.
The FA has indicated that it is treating this allegation as a matter of urgency, reflecting the seriousness with which such claims are taken in the context of maintaining the integrity of the sport. Coote has strongly refuted these claims, stating, “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.” Importantly, it’s noted that PGMOL’s investigation did not encompass the allegations related to the conversation about the Leeds yellow card, indicating a focused inquiry into specific misconduct rather than a wide-ranging review of all allegations against him.
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