Suspended Premier League referee David Coote is being investigated by the Soccer Affiliation (FA) following allegations he mentioned issuing a yellow card with a buddy earlier than a match.
The allegations have been first reported in UK newspaper The Solar on Tuesday evening and relate to a reserving acquired by Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski from Coote throughout their Championship sport in opposition to West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.
“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,” Coote mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday night.
“No matter points I’ll have had in my private life they’ve by no means affected my decision-making on the sector. I’ve all the time held the integrity of the sport within the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the most effective of my means.”
The Solar reported that Coote accepted a dialogue with a buddy had taken place, however that nothing inappropriate occurred, neither is it urged he gained financially from the reserving. Alioski was booked for a late, sliding problem and the choice seems routine.
An FA spokesperson described the allegations as “very critical” and that they’re being investigated “as a matter of urgency”.
The Skilled Recreation Match Officers Ltd (PGMOL) — the organisation that manages English soccer’s main officers — launched an announcement on Tuesday evening saying “the info must be established” and that they “undertake a zero-tolerance strategy to any breach” of their integrity code, with the “PGMOL board dedicated to taking the suitable motion ought to any breach of that Code be confirmed”.
Leeds mentioned on Wednesday they have been conscious of the allegations and “have full confidence within the FA, EFL and PGMOL rules and processes”.
Coote was initially suspended by the PGMOL on November 11 after a video was posted on-line of him making offensive remarks about Jurgen Klopp, the previous Liverpool supervisor. Three days later, The Solar printed a video which confirmed somebody they alleged was Coote sniffing white powder by way of a rolled-up American financial institution word.
The Solar reported that the video was from July 6, in the future after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal in Hamburg the place Coote was the assistant VAR.
The Athletic has been unable to confirm the video nor verify Coote’s id, however the PGMOL responded when requested to offer touch upon it, saying they’re “conscious of the allegations and are taking them very critically”.
UEFA additionally suspended Coote from refereeing in its competitions on November 11, two days earlier than The Solar launched its video, and are investigating the 42-year-old for a “potential violation” of its rules.
Coote can be topic to a separate FA investigation for a possible breach of its guidelines in relation to his feedback about Klopp.
Within the assertion launched on Tuesday evening, the PGMOL added: ”David Coote stays suspended and topic to an ongoing disciplinary course of by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will probably be carried out independently by The FA.”
(Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures)