The Professional Game Match Officials Limited or PGMOL said on Wednesday that it was taking the new allegations against referee David Coote.
“We are aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation,” PGMOL said in a statement.
“David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.” he added.
This comes after The Sun released a video they claimed showed Coote taking cocaine during his tenure as a match official at Euro 2024.
For these reasons UEFA has banned Coote from performing any refereeing activities for the organisation.
The video, said to feature him, shows him using a rolled up US bank note to sniff the substance, thus raising many questions about his behaviour during the tournament directing.
“The UEFA Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November – in advance of the upcoming round of UEFA matches – when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour,” UEFA said in a statement
On the other hand, Coote was suspended in the week earlier due to another video where he is seen unprintably referring to Liverpool and its former coach, Jurgen Klopp.
The PGMOL has so far admitted to investigating both matters thoroughly, the severity of the allegations against Coote.
It has caused a buzz across the fans, players, and other analysts within fan community.
Some have demanded that the referees be made to answer for their actions more so, be charged with more rigour so that they can be made to stick to the ethical standards of any match official.
The two open inquiries by the PGMOL and UEFA will probably go a long way in deciding the fate of Coote in his line of duty.
