Former Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended until June 2026 by the European football governing body, UEFA, Afrosport reports.
Coote was sacked by the Premier League Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last December for his conduct. The body said the referee was in serious breach of his employment contract, and his actions made his position “untenable”.
The 42-year-old was initially suspended by PGMOL on 11 November after a video emerged showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
UEFA, meanwhile, opened an investigation into the referee days later after another video surfaced, allegedly showing him snorting white powder reportedly during last year’s European Championship in Germany.
The control, ethics, and disciplinary body of UEFA says Coote had “violated the basic rules of decent conduct,” and he was sanctioned for “bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.”.
The Englishman is banned from officiating in European competitions until 30 June 2026.
