The FA has launched an urgent investigation into allegations that controversy-laden referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.
The allegations, which Coote refutes, refer to a caution shown to Leeds’s Ezgjan Alioski during a Championship match against West Brom in 2019.
According to The Sun newspaper, Coote had discussed booking Alioski with a friend prior to the game and then messaged him after full-time, saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
“These are very serious allegations and we are investigating as a matter of urgency,” an FA spokesperson said.
“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,” Coote said in a statement. “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 has already been suspended by both the Premier League refereeing body (PGMOL) and Uefa, after a video emerged earlier this month that showed him calling former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a “German c***“.
A further video leaked in the aftermath also appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder. It was allegedly filmed at a hotel booked by Uefa during Euro 2024, where Coote was working as a VAR.
In a statement following fresh allegations over the Alioski booking, PGMOL said: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis. PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.
“We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
