UEFA has launched an investigation into suspended Premier League referee David Coote after a shocking video surfaced showing him allegedly snorting a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024.
In the eight-second WhatsApp video, the VAR specialist appears wide-eyed, using a rolled-up U.S. banknote to snort a four-inch line of what is presumed to be cocaine.
Coote, 42, was suspended earlier this week by the PGMOL, the governing body for professional referees, following a separate incident in which he was filmed, again wide-eyed, making a derogatory comment about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The new video, obtained by The Sun, was reportedly taken on July 6, a day after Coote served as a support VAR official for the Euro 2024 quarter-final match between France and Portugal.
In a statement today, UEFA confirmed it has opened an investigation into Coote for a possible breach 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.
UEFA have already taken action against the Prem ref by removing him from their list of officials for the upcoming international fixtures.
In the circulating video, a bedside table covered in packets of prescription drugs, a credit card, and a copy of Terry Hayes’s novel The Year of the Locust is seen alongside the white powder.
Coote reportedly sent the video to a friend, allegedly filming himself in a UEFA-funded hotel room used during the Euro 2024 tournament.
A separate photo taken on July 1 in Frankfurt showed his credit cards on a saucer with six chopped lines of a suspicious white powder. Coote was reportedly staying in accommodations arranged by UEFA during the tournament.
The friend, who chose to stay anonymous, disclosed that Coote made further comments about Everton FC and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.
Coote’s earlier remarks about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp are now central to investigations by both the PGMOL and the FA. Amid growing controversy this week, UEFA also removed him from officiating assignments for the international break.
Additional videos surfaced over the summer from France, where Coote officiated three football matches at the Paris Olympics, including the Israel versus Japan match on July 30, where he managed VAR duties.
In other private exchanges, Coote reportedly described Everton’s Goodison Park as his least preferred venue due to the close proximity of vocal fans, and expressed disdain for officiating at Bournemouth for its distance and Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, saying he felt “too big” for the assignment at a Championship-level game between Coventry and 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.
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.
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.