A recently surfaced video involving suspended Premier League referee David Coote has raised serious concerns over his professional future.
The clip, which appears to show Coote inhaling a suspicious white powder using a rolled-up note, was allegedly recorded during the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. The incident reportedly took place on July 6, one day after Coote served as a support VAR official for the high-profile quarter-final match between Spain and Germany.
Sources believe Coote filmed himself in his UEFA-funded hotel room, then shared the footage with a friend. The setting of the video reveals a disarrayed bedside table, with visible packets of prescription medication, a credit card, and a copy of the thriller novel The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes. This new footage emerges at a time when Coote is already under significant scrutiny, further complicating his professional situation.
The refereeing organization PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) has publicly acknowledged the video and is expected to launch a thorough investigation to verify its authenticity. Given the controversial nature of the footage, officials will assess its impact on Coote’s standing within the Premier League and beyond. Additionally, the organization has expressed concern for Coote’s well-being and has stated that it will offer him ongoing support as they navigate this difficult process.
This incident compounds the pressure on Coote, whose refereeing career is already on precarious ground following another contentious video that circulated online earlier this week. In that recording, the 42-year-old official made disparaging remarks about Liverpool Football Club and its former manager, Jürgen Klopp. In the video, Coote allegedly criticized Liverpool’s performance in a recent match, describing the team’s play as “s**t.” He also reportedly referred to Klopp in offensive terms, which has added to the backlash against him.
The earlier video came to light just days after Coote officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield. Following the release of this footage, PGMOL swiftly suspended Coote pending an investigation into his comments about Liverpool and Klopp, which were deemed inappropriate for a professional referee.
These combined incidents now cast serious doubt on Coote’s future in top-flight refereeing. Although the organization has yet to make an official decision, experts speculate that PGMOL will carefully weigh the evidence and is likely to conclude its review before the Premier League resumes following the international break.
While PGMOL has underscored its commitment to supporting Coote through this challenging period, the likelihood of a favorable outcome for the referee appears slim. The twin controversies—the disparaging remarks and the alleged drug use—paint a troubling picture of a referee facing immense public and professional scrutiny. Given the gravity of these developments, many observers feel that Coote’s Premier League career is hanging by a thread.
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