UEFA investigates football referee caught in drug scandal
The European football federation, UEFA, is conducting an investigation into referee David Coote after "The Sun" newspaper reportedly recorded him taking cocaine during Euro 2024. The footage published by the British newspaper shows the referee inhaling the drug using a rolled-up banknote.
The incident occurred the day after the quarter-final match between France and Portugal, which ended in a penalty shootout and was Coote's last match of the tournament.
UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate Premier League referee David Coote after a video emerged of him allegedly snorting a white powder during Euro 2024, stated UEFA.
David Coote served as a video review specialist during the European Championships in Germany. He stayed in a hotel near Frankfurt with other referees, supporting the main VAR referee in eight matches. Coote's problems don't end with this incident.
Controversies surrounding referee David Coote
The English Referees' Commission previously suspended him after a video was published in which he made offensive remarks about Liverpool and the club's former manager, Jürgen Klopp. The FA investigated this matter, and UEFA excluded Coote from officiating in the Nations League.
During Euro 2020, Coote oversaw a round-of-16 match in which a controversially awarded penalty contributed to Germany's 2-0 victory over Denmark. The main VAR referee, Stuart Attwell, known for several contentious rulings during the tournament, made the decisions in this match.
Coote, who has been on the international FIFA list since 2020, was appointed by UEFA to oversee some lower-tier matches as a video assistant in Euro 2024. According to the International Federation of Football's regulations, international referees should set an example with their conduct, comply with applicable regulations, and show respect and dignity.
