David Coote has had his contract as a Premier League referee terminated after an investigation into his off-field behaviour. The refereeing body PGMOL said Coote had been found to be “in serious breach” of his terms of employment and had been removed from his position with immediate effect.
The investigation found against Coote on two key claims that emerged in November, part of a series of leaks that claimed to involve the 42-year-old. The first related to a video leaked online that showed Coote making foul-mouthed comments about the then Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. The second related to a video published by the Sun that allegedly showed Coote sniffing what appeared to be white powder.
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“Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect,” a PGMOL spokesperson said. “David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.”
PGMOL believes it has completed a thorough process that was necessary to establish the veracity of the claims and allow Coote space to submit a proper response. He is also subject to three further investigations.
The Football Association is looking into claims that Coote discussed with a friend the possibility of awarding a yellow card to a player. The allegations centre on an exchange of messages before and after Coote refereed the Championship game between Leeds and West Brom in October 2019, in which he booked the Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski. Coote has described those allegations as “false and defamatory”. The FA is also looking into the language he used in describing Klopp, which would appear to contravene rules related to protected characteristics. Uefa is investigating the claims of possible drug use, alleged to have taken place while Coote was working as a support VAR during last summer’s European Championship. Coote has been suspended from Uefa’s VAR list.
Coote took charge of his first Premier League game in 2018 and subsequently joined the elite Select Group of referees. The height of his officiating career came in 2023 when he took charge of the Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle. He has presided over some contentious moments in his matches, including a decision as the VAR not to punish Everton’s Jordan Pickford for the challenge that left Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk out for 10 months with cruciate ligament damage.
The scandal which has erupted around Coote in recent weeks has also prompted concerns for his safety. PGMOL said: “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare. David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”
