David Coote: Premier League referee sacked with immediate effect by PGMOL

The PGMOL first took action against Coote on 11 November following the release of a video on social media, which allegedly showed him criticising Liverpool and their former manager Klopp.

The video appeared to refer a Premier League match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which finished 1-1.

Klopp criticised Coote after the game, saying the referee failed to give fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players.

The FA opened an investigation the following day.

On 13 November, the PGMOL said it was taking further allegations “very seriously” following the publication of images showing appearing to show Coote sniffing a white powder.

Neither the pictures nor the video have been verified independently by the BBC.

Coote was working at the Euros in his capacity as a match official and Uefa, European football’s governing body, also suspended Coote as it launched its own investigation.

On 27 November, the FA opened a new investigation following an allegation that Coote had spoken about showing a yellow card in a Championship match.

Coote denied any wrongdoing and said the allegation was “false and defamatory”.

The exchange referred to a booking Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski received in the match from Coote. There is no suggestion of any financial gain by Coote and the booking is regarded as entirely correct.

The contents of the report have not been verified by the BBC.