Referee David Coote Faces Betting Allegations and Expanded FA Investigation

The Premier League referee, already suspended for prior misconduct, denies claims he discussed issuing a yellow card before a 2019 match.

David Coote is under investigation by the FA following allegations he discussed booking a player with a friend prior to a 2019 Leeds vs. West Brom match.
The Sun published messages allegedly showing Coote joking about issuing a yellow card to Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski, which he later did during the game.
Coote has denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory, and stated his personal issues have never influenced his on-field decisions.
The FA and PGMOL have emphasized the seriousness of the claims and are conducting separate investigations into the matter.
Coote remains suspended after prior controversies, including offensive comments about Jürgen Klopp and a video allegedly showing him using white powder during Euro 2024.