David Coote controversy: UEFA open investigation into English referee | Football News
Things went from bad to worse for David Coote, the Premier League referee who allegedly used derogatory language against Liverpool and their then manager Jurgen Klopp, on Thursday when UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to evaluate whether he had violated their disciplinary regulations.
This comes after The Sun had published a video that the newspaper said showed Coote appearing to snort white powder during his time working as a match official at Euro 2024. This new video was allegedly taken on July 6, a day after the France vs Portugal match in the Euro 2024 quarter-final in Germany in which Coote had been a support VAR official, according to The Sun.
Coote had already been suspended UEFA on Monday in addition to his suspension the English football referees’ body, the PGMOL.
On Monday, an unverified video surfaced on social media where a person alleged to be Coote said about Klopp, “Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying and then just had a right f*****g pop at me. I’ve got no interest at speaking to someone who’s f*****g arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … My God, German c**t, f**k me.”
It is unclear when the video was filmed or of its authenticity.
The video in question seemed to refer to a Premier League game that Coote refereed between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp publicly criticised Coote after the match, accusing him of not penalising tackles made on Liverpool’s players.
England’s Football Association also said it was investigating Coote after the first video went viral.
(With agency inputs)
