New claims have been made that David Coote had set up a drugs party in a Travelodge around the Tottenham v Man City game.
It’s reported that he attempted to organise a ‘drugs party’ around the time of a match between Tottenham and Manchester City, and he also allegedly sent messages arranging for such an event just before and during the half time break of the Carabao Cup clash between on the 30th of October, where he was serving as the fourth official.
He reportedly booked a room at a Travelodge very close to the game’s start time and sent a booking notification to someone else just minutes before the match began.
At half time, he is said to have texted a friend saying “hope you’re getting ready” to meet, indicating plans for a gathering post-match.
These claims come in the wake of other controversies involving Coote, including a video where he made derogatory remarks about Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC, and another video from Euro 2024 where he appeared to snort white powder, leading to his suspension by the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and an investigation by UEFA.
BREAKING: David Coote ‘tried to organise drugs party’ before Tottenham vs Man City game when fourth official https://t.co/nAHPaRQTMr
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 14, 2024
As per The Sun, Coote is said to have sent messages arranging a drugs party the cup clash where he was officiating.
A ‘friend’ said they were shocked at Coote’s behaviour, booking the room at 7:38pm, just 37 minutes before the game was due to start, and sent a booking notification to someone else at 8.04pm, close to kick-off.
Coote then took his spot on the touchline before messaging his pal at the break, saying “hope you’re getting ready” to meet, with the ‘pal’ who was left shocked while watching the match on the TV.
The friend told The Sun: “On the day of the game he was messaging me repeatedly and wanting a drugs party after he’d finished at Spurs.
“He didn’t book the Travelodge until just before kick-off, then sent a notification 11 minutes from the game starting. It was crazy.
“City striker Erling Haaland was on the bench, so I was watching them on TV pretty much side by side.
“And moments before and afterwards he sent me messages.
“When he messaged me at half-time I thought it was so surreal.
“Surely he should have been concentrating on the game, not arranging drugs parties.”
To Coote’s angry, the party never took place. The pal said: “I didn’t feel like meeting up in the end so told him I couldn’t make it.
“He went mad and asked for the £73.99 total booking fee back.”
Now The Sun has further called into question the conduct of one of English football’s leading referees.
The friend, who wants to remain anonymous, also revealed that the referee made other derogatory remarks about Everton, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, and also revealed that Coote said in video chats that Liverpool “will not win the Premier League” this season.
Coote also branded Goodison Park as the worst place to referee due to the fans “shouting abuse so close to the pitch”.
He hates officiating at Bournemouth games because it’s “too far away” and moaned he was “too big” to have to been referee at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for their Championship clash against Oxford United on August 16th.
Keith Hackett, who was in charge of the PGMOL from 2004 to 2010, has backed a controversial policy that could repair the ‘tarnished’ reputation of referees.
Keith also revealed that also revealed he brought forward two major policies, to ban the PGMOL’s match officials from betting on football games across the globe, a policy that was ‘accepted immediately.’
“I then got into the realms of WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] and drug testing,” Hackett said.
” I had no suspicions at that particular time and I’m not being clever now. But, moving forward, they are going to have to take this into account.”
Hackett added: “The actions of David Coote are quite unbelievable and they have tarnished the image of refereeing. This affects referees at all levels of the game. It puts into doubt their integrity.
“Rarely do you come across a referee that is as stupid as David Coote. I can’t think of another case. Other than, obviously, we had Bobby Madley.
“The PGMOL runs a very tight regime looking after the care of match officials and checking the integrity of how they operate.”
Jim White asked if Hackett still believed referees should be drug tested.
Hackett said while it was an ‘extreme’ stance, it would however provide the transparency and clarity.
“I think I would bring it in purely as a defence mechanism,” Hackett said.
“It might seem like an extreme. Just put a barrier up.
“I’m shocked by the fact there’s a video we’ve all seen. I’m absolutely gobsmacked this could happen with a professional sportsperson. That’s what referees are.”
Carragher, Keane, Neville, Wright and Scott react to David Coote in trouble with video posted
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