Premier League Soccer Referee David Coote Has Been Fired After His Inappropriate Comments
Premier League Soccer Referee David Coote has been dismissed as a Premier League referee following an investigation into his off-field inappropriate comments. The refereeing body, PGMOL, announced that David Coote had committed a “serious breach” of his employment terms, resulting in his immediate removal from the role.
The investigation centered on two incidents involving the 42-year-old referee, which surfaced in November as part of a series of leaks. The first was a video showing Coote making explicit comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. The second was footage published by The Sun, allegedly depicting Coote using a substance that appeared to be white powder.
“After a comprehensive investigation into David Coote’s conduct, PGMOL has terminated his employment with immediate effect,” a spokesperson for the organization stated. “His actions constituted a severe violation of his contract, making his continued role untenable.”
PGMOL emphasized that the inquiry was thorough, providing Coote with an opportunity to respond to the allegations. Additionally, he is under scrutiny in three other ongoing investigations.
The Football Association (FA) is probing claims that Coote discussed with a friend the possibility of issuing a yellow card to a player before officiating a Championship match between Leeds and West Brom in October 2019. In that game, Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski received a booking. Coote has denied these allegations, describing them as “false and defamatory.” The FA is also examining whether his language about Klopp violated rules concerning protected characteristics. Meanwhile, UEFA is investigating allegations of potential drug use, reportedly occurring while Coote served as a support VAR during the 2023 European Championship. He has been suspended from UEFA’s VAR roster pending the outcome.
Coote began officiating Premier League matches in 2018 and was later promoted to the elite Select Group of referees. His career highlights include officiating the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle. However, his tenure has not been without controversy, such as his decision as VAR not to penalize Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for the challenge that sidelined Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk for 10 months due to a cruciate ligament injury.