EPL Referee David Coote Faces Fresh Allegations

English Premier League (EPL) referee David Coote is facing further scrutiny after a new video surfaced, which allegedly shows him snorting a white powder.

This follows his recent suspension over a separate video in which the 42-year-old official appeared to make derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, referring to him in offensive terms.

The latest video, reportedly taken on 6 July during the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament, where Coote was officiating as an assistant VAR, was published by an international news outlet. UEFA, which initially suspended him over the first video, has now extended its disciplinary inquiry to include these new allegations.

Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), the EPL’s refereeing body, has reiterated that it is taking the allegations “very seriously”. The organisation also confirmed that Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation, before emphasising its commitment to his welfare during this period.

Chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, commented that PGMOL has responded swiftly and is committed to thoroughly addressing the situation.

Meanwhile, the Football Association is also investigating, particularly examining whether the discriminatory comments about Klopp’s nationality may constitute an aggravated breach of misconduct regulations.

Coote has not publicly commented on the matter.

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