Premier League warned it must drug test referees after David Coote scandal
Coote has been suspended from duty.
The PGMOL [Professional Game Match Official Ltd] has been urged to introduce drug testing for referees after footage emerged appearing to show David Coote snorting a white powder.
On Wednesday, an eight-second video clip was released of a man alleged to be Premier League referee Coote snorting a white powder from inside a hotel room. The Sun claim the footage was recorded the day after the 42-year-old was on duty during the Euro 2024 match between France and Portugal, where he served as a VAR support official.
It followed a separate video that was leaked on Monday where Coote appeared to call former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c**t’.
Coote has been suspended by the PGMOL pending a full investigation with Uefa taking similar steps after the emergence of that second video.
That footage was alleged to have been filmed in a Uefa-funded hotel room.
Former referees chief Keith Hackett claims English football authorities have already blocked proposals to bring in drug testing in recent years, insisting checks that are routinely carried out on players must now be widened to include match officials.
‘What is really concerning me is that the integrity of every referee in the organisation is now in question,’ Hackett told The Telegraph.
Hackett explained he initially proposed drug tests for referees two decades ago, making his proposal to the PGMOL board which includes the chief executives of the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League.
‘I thought, if the players have to go through this process, why not referees?’ he said. ‘That wasn’t accepted by the board. I think, at that particular time, it was just rejected as, “It doesn’t happen to referees”.
‘We have started to discuss this and this is something for the future which will be discussed to possibly include an anti-doping programme for referees.
‘We do not have an indication that this is a problem but this is something we have to look at. The referees are a neglected population.’
The PGMOL are aware of the latest video involving Coote with a statement released on Wednesday night. ‘We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously.
‘David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation. David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.
‘We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.’
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