Premier League Referee Under Investigation for Sports Betting Infractions

Premier League referee David Coote is under investigation for handing out a yellow card in a match before a game, as he had discussed he would do with a friend the day before.

Hot Water

The English Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote spoke about handing out a yellow card in advance of the game between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.

According to The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper, Coote met a fan online and discussed handing out a yellow card in anticipation of the match.

Coote did precisely that and texted his new friend the following day, “What a day yesterday. I hope you backed as discussed.”

Backed can be construed as betting at a sportsbook, which means it was an intentional and predetermined action to effectuate a positive outcome for a proposition bet; in this case, a yellow card would be issued. That is a serious breach of the integrity of the game and the league, which is why Coote finds himself in the crosshairs of several investigations.

An FA spokesperson said: “These are very serious allegations, and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”

Coote’s Response

Coote has responded to the claims and said in a statement, “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

Other Allegations

David Coote has been making more news for himself recently than the games he officiates, and none of it has put him in a favorable light. A simultaneous investigation by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the governing body for referees and game officials, has also been launched into the grave allegations.

PGMOL said in a statement: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.

“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven. David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA. We will be making no further comment at this stage.”

Leeds United, one of the teams affected by Coote’s actions, released a brief statement of their own, “Leeds United are aware of the allegations regarding the conduct of a match official, involving our EFL Championship fixture with West Bromwich Albion in October 2019. We respect and have full confidence in the FA, EFL, and PGMOL regulations and processes.”

But although this is the most serious allegation leveled at Coote, it is not the only one. Earlier this month, Coote was suspended after being caught ranting about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on an internet video that began circulating. And if that wasn’t enough, shortly after his suspension, Coote was captured on video snorting a white substance through a rolled-up $100 bill.

Coote has not commented on the videos as of this writing.