The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has terminated the contract of Premier League referee David Coote for breach of contract.
The decision follows his suspension on November 11, after a video showing Coote using inappropriate language to describe former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp emerged. The video quickly went viral, prompting an immediate investigation by PGMOL.
The investigation concluded that Coote’s actions severely breached his employment contract, rendering his continued employment untenable. Despite this, PGMOL has committed to supporting Coote’s welfare, stating, “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us, and we remain committed to his welfare.”
Additionally, Coote is embroiled in further controversies that question the integrity of the refereeing body. He is under investigation for potentially influencing a match outcome during the October 2019 Leeds United vs. West Bromwich Albion game, where he issued a yellow card to Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski. This matter is under scrutiny by both PGMOL and the Football Association (FA), with investigations reported by The Sun.
The same report indicates that Coote had discussed issuing the yellow card via text messages, although there is no indication of any financial benefit from this action.
Further compounding the referee’s troubles, The Sun released a video depicting Coote misusing white powder in Germany for the 2024 European Championship. This series of events has significantly impacted Coote’s professional standing and raised serious questions about his conduct within the sport.
