Under-fire Premier League referee David Coote has rubbished claims he spoke about giving a player a yellow card before a game.
Coote is already suspended after a video was leaked online showing him insulting Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. A clip later emerged of the 42-year-old blowing a white powder.
The Athletic have revealed that Coote is now being investigated by the Football Association after The Sun claimed he had spoken about handing a booking to Ezgjan Alioski to a friend before a match between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.
A statement from Coote said: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.
“Whatever problems I’ve had in my personal life, they’ve never affected my decision-making on the pitch. I’ve always had the highest regard for the integrity of the game, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability possibilities”.
An FA spokesman says the allegations are “very serious” and the matter is being investigated “as a matter of urgency”.
Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) also said so Sky Sports: “The facts must be established in the light of these very serious allegations.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which all match referees sign annually.
“The PGMOL Board undertakes to take appropriate action if any breach of this Code is demonstrated.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate from the FA’s independent investigation into this matter.”
“We will make no further comment at this stage.”
