Contract of Premier League Referee David Coote Ended Due to Contract Violation

New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) Premier League referee David Coote has had his contract terminated by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for breach of contract. The referee was suspended on November 11 after a video surfaced showing Coote using offensive language towards former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, leading to widespread attention.

“Following a comprehensive investigation into David Coote’s behavior, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated effective immediately. Coote’s actions were determined to be in serious violation of his employment contract, rendering his position untenable.

“We are committed to supporting David Coote and remain focused on his well-being,” stated PGMOL.

Coote, who has recently found himself at the heart of controversies that raise significant questions about the integrity of the refereeing body, is also under scrutiny for a potential betting scandal.

The 42-year-old is being questioned regarding a yellow card issued to Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during the Leeds United versus West Bromwich Albion match in October 2019. He is under investigation by both the refereeing authority in England, PGMOL, and the Football Association (FA) in separate inquiries, according to reports from British news outlet The Sun.

Reports indicate that Coote discussed the issuance of a yellow card via text messages; however, there are no allegations suggesting that the referee profited financially from the incident.

A previous video from The Sun also depicted the referee appearing to snort white powder while in Germany for the 2024 European Championship.