David Coote has issued a fresh statement after new allegations were made about the Premier League referee.
The Sun allege that the 42-year-old is at the centre of an FA betting probe, having accused the official of discussing a yellow card with a friend before a match.
But Coote has now furiously hit back and denied the allegations.
“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,” he said in a statement.
David Coote has issued a fresh statement after new allegations were made about the Premier League referee
PA
“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life 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.”
Coote is currently suspended by the FA after a video emerged that appeared to show him making offensive remarks about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
In the footage, which was published on social media, he described Klopp as a ‘c**t’ and also criticised Liverpool.
Coote initially denied it was him, leading to suggestions that it could have been AI-generated or a deep fake.
He later said that it could be him, but he has no recollection of ever being filmed making the comments.
To make matters worse for Coote, another video then released appearing to show him snorting suspicious white powder.
The Sun say the footage was captured while he was working as an official during the European Championships in Germany back in the summer.
In response, the PGMOL said it was ‘aware of the allegations’ and was ‘taking them very seriously’.
The footage is, however, yet to be verified.
The PGMOL also said: “David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.
“David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.
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