The Football Association is investigating allegations that the referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card before a game.
The allegations centre on an exchange of messages before and after Coote refereed the Championship game between Leeds and West Brom in October 2019, in which he booked the Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski.
The messages are said by the Sun to have been between Coote and a friend. According to the Sun, Coote sent a message after the game saying: “What a day yesterday. I hope you backed as discussed.”
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Coote has denied wrongdoing. He was suspended by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd this month after he was shown making foul-mouthed comments about Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool. Two days later a clip allegedly showed him sniffing what appeared to be white powder.
Coote said in response to the yellow card allegations: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
The Football Association said: “These are very serious allegations and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”
PGMOL said: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our integrity code of conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis. PGMOL board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by the FA. We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Leeds said in a statement on Wednesday they were aware of the allegations and “respect and have full confidence in the FA, EFL and PGMOL regulations and processes”.
