Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after shocking allegations surfaced.
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Coote is accused of attempting to organize a “drugs party” while officiating a match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City during the Carabao Cup on October 30.
This scandal erupted after a video emerged showing Coote allegedly making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp, referring to Liverpool as “st” and Klopp as a “German ct” following a match in 2020.
The incident has prompted PGMOL and UEFA to suspend Coote from all refereeing duties, pending investigations.
Adding to the controversy, a second video surfaced showing Coote apparently snorting a white powder during Euro 2024.
In a report by The Sun, Coote allegedly messaged a friend just minutes before officiating the Spurs vs. Man City match, trying to organize a post-game party involving drugs.
According to the report, Coote booked a Travelodge room 37 minutes before the match’s kick-off and sent a notification shortly before the game started. At half-time, he reportedly sent another message to his friend saying, “Hope you’re getting ready.”
The friend declined the invitation, leading to an angry response from Coote, who demanded a refund for the £73.99 booking fee.
These allegations have sparked widespread criticism, with calls for stricter drug testing of referees within the Premier League. Investigations by both UEFA and PGMOL are currently ongoing to uncover the truth behind the accusations.