UEFA have opened an investigation into suspended Premier League referee David Coote after he was filmed snorting white powder in a shocking video taken while he was on duty at Euro 2024.
In the eight second Whatsapp film the under-fire VAR specialist is wide-eyed as he uses a rolled up US bank note to snort a four inch line of what appears to be cocaine.
Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL, governing body for professional referees, this week after a separate video emerged of him, again wide-eyed, calling former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a “German c**t”.
The Sun’s exclusive new video was taken on July 6 – a day after the Euro 2024 quarter final clash between France and Portugal, where he acted as a support VAR official.
UEFA confirmed in a statement today they have now opened an investigation into the ref for a potential violation of its regulations.
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.”
UEFA have already taken action against the Prem ref by removing him from their list of officials for the upcoming international fixtures.
In the viral video, the bedside table alongside the white powder are seen scattered with packets of prescription drugs, a credit card, and the Terry Hayes novel The Year of The Locust.
He sent the clip to a pal and it’s believed he filmed himself in his Uefa-funded hotel room he used during the tournament.
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No referees have EVER been tested for drugs as David Coote faces end of Premier League career
EXCLUSIVE by Martin Lipton
NO referees or match officials have ever been tested for drugs – as David Coote’s apparent “cocaine shame” is set to end his career.
While all players and other athletes in British sport are subject to drug testing rules, including post-match and out of competition action, the regulations do not apply to match officials.
That is the case globally across not just football and throughout the world rather than only in the UK.
All sports follow the World Anti-Doping Authority code, aimed at preventing athletes gaining an advantage by using performance-enhancing substances.
The Wada banned list also includes recreational drugs.
But the Wada provisions, also followed by UK Anti Doping, which conducts tests across British sport, makes no reference to match officials.
UKAD explains: “Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition,
“Or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme.
“Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.”
But the regulations do not apply to match officials – because of the “performance enhancing” provision of the world code.
The PGMOL have revealed they are aware of the video of him sniffing a white powder.
They told The Sun: “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.”
The ref sent another photo from Frankfurt on July 1 which showed his credit cards on a saucer either side of six chopped-up lines of suspicious white powder.
He was staying in hotel rooms appointed by tournament organiser UEFA.
The pal, who wishes to remain anonymous, also reveals that the referee made other remarks about Everton football club and Liverpool player Andy Robertson.
Coote’s previous comments about Klopp are now at the centre of both a PGMOL and FA investigation into his conduct.
As the scandal grew this week, Uefa also took him off their roster for games during this weekend’s international break.
Other videos were sent over the summer from France, where Coote officiated at three football matches at the Paris Olympics.
They included the Israel versus Japan clash on July 30, where he was in charge of VAR.
Coote also branded Goodison Park – the ground of Liverpool’s rivals Everton – as the worst place to referee due to the fans “shouting abuse so close to the pitch”.
He hates officiating at Bournemouth games because it’s “too far away” and moaned he was “too big” to have to ref at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for their Championship clash against Oxford United on August 16.
The pal is speaking out to highlight Coote apparently bragging of taking drugs repeatedly during tournaments and big Prem matches.
Shocking David Coote video in full
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
A PGMOL spokesperson told The Sun: “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.”
Coote was suspended by PGMOL bosses earlier this week after a leaked video showed the ref abusing Liverpool and their ex manager Jurgen Klopp.
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The footage was said to have been taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An investigation is now taking place and the FA are also initiating their own probe, as Coote could be charged with an aggravated breach of FA rules after mentioning Klopp’s nationality in the initial leaked video.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
