Scandal-hit Premier League ref David Coote allegedly snorts white powder
Disgraced official David Coote, who has already been suspended over a separate video, has now been implicated once again.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Suspended Premier League referee David Coote allegedly snorts white powder in a shocking video taken while he was officiating at this year’s European Championships.
According to The Sun, the eight second WhatsApp video shows the under-fire VAR specialist wide-eyed as he uses a rolled up US bank note to snort a 10 centimetre line of what appears to be cocaine.
Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL, governing body for professional referees, this week after a separate video emerged of him, again wide-eyed, calling former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a “German c**t”.
The Sun’s exclusive new video was taken on July 6 – a day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final clash between France and Portugal, where he acted as a support VAR official.
On the bedside table alongside the white powder are scattered packets of prescription drugs, a credit card, and the Terry Hayes novel The Year of The Locust.
He sent the clip to a friend and it’s believed he filmed himself in his UEFA-funded hotel room he used during the tournament.
The ref sent another photo from Frankfurt on July 1. It showed his credit cards on a saucer either side of six chopped-up lines of suspicious white powder.
He was staying in hotel rooms appointed by tournament organiser UEFA.
The friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, also reveals that the referee made other derogatory remarks about Everton football club and Liverpool player Andy Robertson.
Coote’s previous comments about Klopp are now at the centre of both a PGMOL and FA investigation into his conduct.
As the scandal grew this week, UEFA also took him off its roster for games during this weekend’s international break.
Other videos were sent over the northern summer from France, where Coote officiated at three football matches at the Paris Olympics. They included the Israel versus Japan clash on July 30, where he was in charge of VAR.
His friend has told how Coote said in video chats table-toppers Liverpool “will not win the Premier League” this season.
Coote also branded Goodison Park – the ground of Liverpool’s rivals Everton – as the worst place to referee due to the fans “shouting abuse so close to the pitch”.
He hates officiating at Bournemouth games because it’s “too far away” and moaned he was “too big” to have to ref at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for their Championship clash against Oxford United on August 16.
The friend is speaking out to highlight Coote apparently bragging of taking drugs repeatedly during tournaments and big Premier League matches.
They told The Sun: “I believe that the FA and the governing body of the referees have to make sure that the sport we all love is protected and being officiated by the right people. My message to David Coote is … there’s help out there.”
The friend added: “The video of him badmouthing Klopp didn’t surprise me at all.
“He said to me Liverpool would definitely not win the Premier League. It just makes me question the kind of people running the Prem. He also described Andy Robertson as a ‘Scottish prick’.
“He did say that the worst place to referee was Goodison Park due to the young Scousers screaming, shouting, swearing at him and calling every name under the sun before the games had even started. And he mentioned he hated going to Bournemouth because it was just such a long way away.
“He did mention about Coventry City versus Oxford United on a Friday night on Sky Sports. He couldn’t really be a**ed with this game … the fact that he had to go and referee in front of an empty Ricoh Arena. He said ‘I’m a bit too big for this’.”
A PGMOL spokesperson told The Sun: “We’re aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.
“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.
“We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
Coote was suspended by PGMOL bosses earlier this week after a leaked video showed the ref abusing Liverpool and ex-manager Klopp.
The footage was said to have been taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An investigation is now taking place and the FA are also initiating their own probe, as Coote could be charged with an aggravated breach of FA rules after mentioning Klopp’s nationality in the initial leaked video.
Outside of England, UEFA has also taken action against the referee by removing him from its list of officials for the upcoming international fixtures.
If Coote decides to quit, or is sacked, he is set to lose over £1 million ($1.95m) over the next few years.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission
More Coverage
Originally published as Scandal-hit Premier League ref David Coote allegedly snorts white powder
Why Ange’s rollercoaster Tottenham rides are not sustainable
When it all clicks at Tottenham Hotspur, they’re a marvellous side to watch, however, too often are teams exposing the flaws in their entertaining brand of football, and that might not be sustainable for Ange Postocoglou, writes Martin Samuel.
From A-League to Europe: What happened to these young Aussies?
They set the A-League alight before signing big moves to Europe. So how are these young Australians tracking at their new clubs? Or have they been moved on? We’ve got the details here.