Premier League warned it must drug test referees after David Coote scandal

The PGMOL [Professional Game Match Official Ltd] has been urged to present cause investigating for referees aft footage emerged appearing to amusement David Coote snorting a achromatic powder.

On Wednesday, an eight-second video clip was released of a antheral alleged to beryllium Premier League referee Coote snorting a achromatic pulverization from wrong a edifice room. The Sun assertion the footage was recorded the time aft the 42-year-old was connected work during the Euro 2024 lucifer betwixt France and Portugal, wherever helium served arsenic a VAR enactment official.

It followed a abstracted video that was leaked connected Monday wherever Coote appeared to telephone erstwhile Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c**t’.

Coote has been suspended by the PGMOL pending a afloat probe with Uefa taking akin steps aft the emergence of that 2nd video.

That footage was alleged to person been filmed successful a Uefa-funded edifice room.

Former referees main Keith Hackett claims English shot authorities person already blocked proposals to bring successful cause investigating successful caller years, insisting checks that are routinely carried retired connected players indispensable present beryllium widened to see lucifer officials.

‘What is truly concerning maine is that the integrity of each referee successful the organisation is present successful question,’ Hackett told The Telegraph.

Hackett explained helium initially projected cause tests for referees 2 decades ago, making his connection to the PGMOL committee which includes the main executives of the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League.

‘I thought, if the players person to spell done this process, wherefore not referees?’ helium said. ‘That wasn’t accepted by the board. I think, astatine that peculiar time, it was conscionable rejected as, “It doesn’t hap to referees”.

‘We person started to sermon this and this is thing for the aboriginal which volition beryllium discussed to perchance see an anti-doping programme for referees.

‘We bash not person an denotation that this is simply a occupation but this is thing we person to look at. The referees are a neglected population.’

The PGMOL are alert of the latest video involving Coote with a connection released connected Wednesday night. ‘We alert of the allegations and are taking them precise seriously.

‘David Coote remains suspended pending a afloat investigation. David’s payment continues to beryllium of utmost value to america and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing indispensable enactment helium needs done this period.

‘We are not successful a presumption to remark further astatine this stage.’

MORE : Some moments tin alteration everything, successful athletics and successful life, for bully and atrocious – arsenic David Coote ungraded proves

MORE : Real Madrid urged to walk £66m connected Arsenal prima ‘to lick occupation for 10 years’

MORE : Manchester United’s £42m summertime signing explains dilatory commencement astatine club