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The FA has launched an urgent investigation into allegations that controversial referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card before a match.
The allegations, which Coote refutes, refer to a warning issued to Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski during a Championship match against West Brom in 2019.
According to The Sun newspaper, Coote had discussed Alioski’s booking with a friend before the match, then sent him a message after full-time, saying: “I hope you supported as discussed.”
“These are very serious allegations and we are investigating them urgently,” an FA spokesperson said.
“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,” Coote said in a statement. “Whatever problems I may have encountered in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always had the highest regard for the integrity of the game, 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 showing him treating the former Liverpool manager , Jurgen Klopp, from “German c***”.
Another subsequently leaked video also appears to show Coote sniffing 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 new allegations regarding Alioski’s booking, PGMOL said: “The facts must be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our integrity code of conduct, which is signed annually by all match officials. The PGMOL Board of Directors undertakes to take appropriate action if a violation of this code is proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and is the subject of ongoing disciplinary proceedings by PGMOL, separate from the investigation into this matter which will be conducted independently by the FA.
“We will make no further comment at this stage.”
