The Football Association (FA) has launched an urgent investigation into claims that Premier League referee David Coote discussed booking a player before officiating a Championship match in 2019.
The allegations, first reported by The Sun, stem from text exchanges in which Coote allegedly joked with a friend about giving Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski a yellow card during a game against West Bromwich Albion.
In the 18th minute of the match, Coote issued a yellow card to Alioski for a challenge on Darnell Furlong.
The next day, Coote reportedly messaged his friend, stating, “What a day yesterday. I hope you backed as discussed.”
While Coote denies any wrongdoing and insists the messages were mere “banter,” the FA considers the allegations severe, stating, “These are very serious allegations, and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”
This controversy follows Coote’s recent suspension by the referees’ body PGMOL over a leaked explicit rant about Jurgen Klopp and a separate incident involving a video of him snorting a white powder.
Coote maintains that his personal issues have not influenced his professional decisions, asserting, “I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
The FA’s findings are expected to determine the next steps for Coote and the broader implications for referee accountability.
