The English referee David Coote, in full turmoil in his country, was allegedly filmed in the process of sniffing cocaine. The facts would have taken place in the aftermath of the Euro quarter -final between France and Portugal, where he officiated at the Var.
David COOTE. This English referee, far from being the best known in his country, is in turmoil. After a first scandal, a video where we see him insulting Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp in 2020, another extract shows him aspiring a white substance with his nose, using a bank note. Cocaine, in all likelihood.
According to The Sun, which published this video, the facts were taken place on June 6, the day after the Euro quarter -final between France and Portugal. David Coote was in charge of the Var, while the main referee was his compatriot Michael Oliver.
UEFA temporarily suspended this referee
UEFA quickly took measures concerning this David COOTE.
“The UEFA Arbitrators Committee immediately suspended David Coote until again on November 11 – before the next UEFA series series – when it has taken note of its inappropriate behavior”said the European body in a statement.
In general, this double affair is bad for English referee. “David Coote’s career, at all levels, is obviously over, Observe the English journalist Henry Winter on X (ex-Twitter). He was not particularly good referee but he seems to need help. And new friends. It is a personal and professional humiliation for him and also deeply damaging for the arbitration community. The decisions of the arbitrators will be even more questioned. The PGMOL (the organization responsible for the refereeing of English professional football matches) has an important task to perform to restore confidence in the referees. »»
