Premier League referee David Coote has been dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a thorough investigation into his conduct. The decision was announced on Monday, marking an immediate termination of Coote's employment.
The 42-year-old referee, who hails from Nottinghamshire, England, found himself at the center of controversy after a video surfaced on social media. The footage, which quickly went viral, captured Coote making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. In the video, Coote referred to Klopp as "f***ing arrogant" and a "German c***," comments that have been widely condemned.
A statement from PGMOL confirmed the dismissal, stating, "Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect. Coote's actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable."
The incident has sparked discussions across the football community, with many questioning the standards and accountability of referees in the Premier League. Coote, who began officiating top-flight games in the 2017-18 season, was considered one of the top referees in English football.
Adding to the controversy, The Sun published another video allegedly showing Coote sniffing white powder through a rolled-up American banknote. This video reportedly dates back to July 6, shortly after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal, where Coote served as a support VAR. While The Athletic has not verified the video's authenticity, PGMOL stated it is taking these new allegations "very seriously."
Furthermore, Coote is under investigation by the Football Association (FA) over an alleged betting breach. The allegations suggest that Coote discussed issuing a yellow card to Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski with a friend before a Championship game against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019. Coote has strongly refuted these claims, labeling them as "false and defamatory."
Despite the controversies, PGMOL emphasized their commitment to Coote's welfare, stating, "Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us, and we remain committed to his welfare." Coote retains the right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.
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