A shocking video has emerged appearing to show suspended Premier League referee David Coote snorting white powder.
The footage, published by The Sun and seen by the Daily Star, seems to show the VAR operator using a US bank note to sniff a line of what appears to be a white substance.
The publication claims the eight second WhatsApp video was filmed while he was officiating at this summer’s Euros.
It comes after Coote was suspended by the PGMOL after a separate video of him emerged earlier this week calling former Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp a “German c**t” and the Reds “sh*t”.
The Sun’s exclusive story details the contents of the footage which they claimed he filmed himself in his Uefa funded hotel room. It was leaked by a pal who wants to remain anonymous.
Coote’s previous comments about Klopp and Liverpool are now at the centre of both a PGMOL and FA investigation into his conduct.
The first of two videos showed former Nottinghamshire cricket star Ben Kitt asking Coote what he thought about Klopp, who left Liverpool at the start of the summer after nine years in charge, and his team.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Coote replies: “Liverpool were sh*t. [Klopp is a] c***, absolute c***. Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown.
“He accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me and I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So, I did my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner’s alright! I get on with him. But my god, German c***, f*** me.”
Kitt then concludes on the video: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***. Liverpool are all f***ing b***ends and we hate f***ing Scousers.”
(Image: Getty Images)
In a second video, Coote said: “Just to be clear, that f***ing last video cannot go anywhere, seriously.” Kitt then added: “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ‘f***ing ruin his career.
“Let’s face it, we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also, he’s a f***ing legend.”
In a statement released after the videos went viral on social media on Monday, PGMOL (the Professional Game Match Officials Limited group, who officiate all top flight matches in England and Wales) said: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
As the scandal grew this week, Uefa also took him off their roster for games during this weekend’s international break.