Coote found himself suspended in November following the emergence of footage where he is heard using derogatory language about Jurgen Klopp, whom he called a “German c***”. The situation escalated when another video surfaced, this one supposedly capturing him snorting a white substance, which was reportedly taken shortly after he served as VAR for France’s triumph over Portugal in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
PGMOL confirmed his sacking in a statement: “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.
“David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable. Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.”
It included the provision: “David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”
However, the Daily Mail reports Coote has chosen not to contest the decision and has come to terms with the end of his time as a top-flight official. In addition, he is currently the subject of an FA investigation surrounding a betting enquiry linked to a Championship game he officiated between Leeds United and West Brom in October 2019, reports the Mirror.
It was claimed that referee Coote engaged in discussions about booking Leeds star Ezgjan Alioski with a fan online prior to officiating the game. Coote has come forward to adamantly deny these claims.
