UEFA opens investigation into ref David Coote​​

UEFA has opened an investigation into suspended Premier League referee David Coote after a video published by The Sun allegedly showed him snorting a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024.

Coote, 42, was initially stood down by PGMOL, the refereeing body for English football, on Monday after a first video was posted to X which showed the referee making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jürgen Klopp.

UEFA followed suit later on Monday and removed Coote from this week’s UEFA Nations League fixtures, where he was due to act as a VAR.

The Sun claims the new video published on Wednesday, which has not been verified by ESPN, was filmed by Coote and shared to a friend on WhatsApp. It was allegedly taken at a UEFA-appointed hotel on July 6, the day after his final appointment at Euro 2024 as support VAR for the Portugal vs. France quarterfinal.

A statement issued by UEFA on Thursday confirmed an investigation for a potential violation of its regulations at the hotel had begun.

It read: “A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote. Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”

PGMOL on Wednesday confirmed that it was aware of the second video published

A PGMOL spokesperson said: “We 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.”