- David Coote was suspended earlier this month by referee chief PGMOL
- The referee would now have discussed giving a yellow card before the match
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all in bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off NOW! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
The Football Association is investigating claims that referee David Coote spoke about booking a player before a match.
The allegations center around a Championship match between Leeds and West Bromwich in October 2019.
It is reported The sun According to the newspaper, Coote had had a text exchange with a ‘friend’ suggesting Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski would be booked for the game at Elland Road.
During the 18th minute of the match, Alioski was shown a yellow card by Coote after sliding into West Brom’s Darnell Furlong.
The next day, Coote allegedly messaged his friend again, saying: ‘What a day yesterday. I hope you supported it as discussed.”
An FA spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday evening that they were investigating the matter.
The FA is investigating claims that David Coote spoke about booking a player before a match
Coote showed Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski a yellow card against West Brom in 2019
Coote reportedly messaged a friend after the match: ‘Hope you supported as discussed’
“These are very serious allegations and we are investigating them urgently,” the statement said.
The Sun report Coote denies any wrongdoing and there is no evidence the official made any financial gain. The decision to give the yellow card is also considered the correct decision by the referee given the nature of the challenge.
Coote insists nothing untoward happened during their conversation and reportedly claims he was only having ‘banter’ with the friend.
During the exchange, Coote reportedly boasted to the Leeds fan that he would be refereeing the Championship match against the Baggies.
It is reported that the fan jokingly told Coote to give Alioski a yellow card during the match so he could bet on that outcome in advance.
On the eve of the match, the friend replied to another Coote message by saying: ‘Oooh big game. Are we still working on what we discussed? Maybe I can do that.’
Coote replied: ‘Haha, I don’t know what you mean.’
The friend added, “Haha, I’m going there tomorrow morning so don’t let me down.”
An astonishing leaked video that went viral earlier this month appeared to show the suspended Premier League official calling Liverpool ‘***’ and Jurgen Klopp a ‘German ****’.
A video also emerged of Coote allegedly snorting white powder in a hotel room during Euro 2024
The 42-year-old official pictured with former Reds manager Klopp after a league match in 2020
“Haha, let’s see,” Coote replied.
During the 18th minute of the match, Alioski was shown a yellow card by Coote after sliding into West Brom’s Darnell Furlong.
Alioski was ultimately the match winner for Leeds, scoring the only goal of the match in their 1–0 win at Elland Road.
A day after the match, Coote said to the friend: ‘What a day yesterday. I hope you supported it as discussed.”
The Leeds fan responded by saying he had not bet on the outcome, and admitted another friend was ‘backing it’.
“Haha, then he’ll have to share it with you,” the referee replied.
In a statement to the Sun on Tuesday, the referee said: ‘Whatever problems I have had in my personal life have never affected my decision-making on the pitch.
‘I have always held the integrity of the game in high regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.’
Alioski then scored the winner as Leeds triumphed 1–0 over the Baggies in the match
Referee chiefs PGMOL launched an investigation and provided an update on Coote this week
Coote has found himself in the middle of a storm in recent weeks.
He was suspended by refereeing body PGMOL for an explicit rant about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that was leaked on social media.
Since the video was circulated, Coote has since been filmed snorting a white powder during the 2024 European Championships earlier this summer.