Referee David Coote is under investigation by the Football Association (FA) following allegations that he discussed issuing a yellow card with a fan before a Championship match. Coote, who denies the claims, describes them as “false and defamatory.”
The latest allegations, reported by The Sun, relate to an exchange between Coote and a fan before and after a 2019 match between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion. The messages reportedly reference a yellow card given to Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski during the game.
The FA has labeled the claims “very serious” and launched an independent investigation. Additionally, Coote remains suspended by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and UEFA, with PGMOL maintaining a “zero-tolerance approach” to breaches of its integrity code.
In a statement, Coote strongly denied the allegations, asserting:
“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.”
Coote, who has officiated Premier League matches since 2018, is also under scrutiny for separate incidents, including a video where he allegedly makes disparaging remarks about Jürgen Klopp and photos published by The Sun allegedly showing him using a white powder during the summer’s European Championship.
Both the FA and PGMOL emphasize the seriousness of the allegations, with the latter promising appropriate action if any breach of its code is proven. Coote’s suspension and the ongoing investigations have cast a spotlight on the integrity and conduct expected from top-level referees.
CREDIT: Allneeds, THE NATION
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