Top Premier League referee sacked over conduct

News Update

Premier League referee David Coote has been sacked after an investigation into his conduct.

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 own investigation.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has now confirmed the termination of the Nottinghamshire official’s employment in a statement on Monday afternoon, saying that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.

The full statement from the PGMOL read: “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.”

Another video also emerged last month which appeared 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 appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.

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.