UEFA issues statement on suspended referee David Coote after new video of alleged cocaine use at Euro 2024 emerges

The PGMOL suspended Premier League referee Coote earlier this week after a video surfaced showing him calling former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a 'German c**t'. The 42-year-old is now facing a separate probe as another leaked video has allegedly shown the referee snorting what appears to be cocaine during Euro 2024.

The video appears to show Coote ingesting a 'white powder' from a rolled-up United States bank note during the European Championship in Germany earlier this year. The Premier League referee had been working as a video review specialist at the tournament. UEFA has now revealed that they have launched an investigation into Coote and confirmed the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to assess whether Coote has breached the Disciplinary Regulations.

In a statement made on Thursday afternoon, the UEFA said: “A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote”.

The 42-year-old Premier League referee has already been disciplined by UEFA, who have removed him from their roster of officials for the forthcoming international matches, and it is understood that he will not take to the field until both the investigations are completed.