Breaking News: David Coote’s salary, allegations against him and punishment he will face

After two compromising recordings, David Coote is under investigation by the PGMOL, FA, and UEFA, and his future is now unknown.

David Coote is under investigation by PGMOL and the FA (Image: Danehouse/Getty Images)

One of the most well-known Premier League referees in the UK, David Coote, is coming under more and more criticism.

After a week full of accusations and controversy, his job is in jeopardy. When a video purportedly showed the 42-year-old making disparaging statements against former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the PGMOL suspended him.

Additional video surfaced showing Coote apparently using a banknote to snort a whitish liquid. According to reports, he was on duty at the European Championships in France this summer when this footage was captured.

Coote is paid well by PGMOL and frequently referees some of the most important games in the nation. In 2023, he even officiated the Carabao Cup final. We look at his entire circumstances as the controversy involving one of the Premier League’s highest ranking officials rages on.

How much does David Coote make?
Depending on their ranking and level of experience, Premier League referees can get anywhere from £73,191 to £147,258 annually. According to the Mirror, officials also get a match fee of £1,116 every game, or £837 if they are acting as the video assistant referee.

The Athletic claims that referees are eligible to get incentives in accordance with the calibre of their work. ‘Key match incidents’ are used to evaluate this; the more correct decisions they make, the larger their remuneration.

According to a Sun article, referee David Coote receives a salary of £100,000 each year. Before retiring, Mike Dean, the highest-paid Premier League official in history, reportedly earned an impressive £200,000.

Which accusations are made against David Coote?

There has been a video that purports to show Coote verbally attacking Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. During a game he officiated, he allegedly called Liverpool “subpar” and used foul language to characterise Klopp, including a word disparaging his German ancestry.

Coote seems to describe a confrontation with Klopp in a video, saying: “C**t, absolute c**t.” Not only did he accuse me of lying, but he also gave me a good f*****g pop after accusing me of lying while I was refereeing against Burnley in lockdown. I don’t want to talk to someone who is f*****g conceited. My goodness, German c***t. I do my hardest not to talk to him. F**k me.

PGMOL immediately disciplinary actiond Coote once the footage, which was allegedly filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, was made public. “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation,” the statement read. PGMOL will refrain from commenting until that procedure is finished.

Additionally, UEFA has taken action by removing the official off their list for upcoming international matches. A second footage that allegedly showed Coote inhaling a white powder then appeared, further escalating the dispute.

According to The Sun, Coote can be seen using a rolled-up US banknote to snort a line of a white liquid in the eight-second WhatsApp video. According to reports, this incident happened on July 6, the day after France’s quarterfinal encounter against Portugal, in which Coote was a support VAR official.

PGMOL confirmed that they are taking the latest accusations very seriously. “We acknowledge the accusations and are treating them with the utmost seriousness. According to a PGMOL representative, David Coote is still suspended while a thorough investigation is conducted.

“David’s well-being is our first priority, and we’re determined to give him the continuous assistance he requires throughout this time. At this point, we are unable to provide any additional commentary.

A UEFA representative stated: “The UEFA Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November – in advance of the upcoming round of UEFA matches – when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour.”

What penalty might be imposed on David Coote?
According to reports, PGMOL is thinking of suspending Coote for an extended length of time or perhaps removing him from all officiating responsibilities. The Football Association may take measures against Coote in addition to the impending PGMOL investigation.

According to the Times, the FA will look into the use of the phrase “German” on their own and may prosecute someone with serious misconduct. Race, colour, ethnic background, and nationality are all included in the definition of “aggravated breach” under FA regulations, whether they are stated explicitly or implicitly.

A representative for the FA stated: “We are aware of the matter, and we are investigating.” Coote has admitted the veracity of the first video in which he made comments regarding Klopp, and it is believed that he is considering leaving his role as one of the Premier League’s top officials before possibly being fired.

The question of what punishment Coote ought to receive is still up for debate. Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville argued that the 42-year-old shouldn’t lose his job prior to the release of the second video, while former Premier League referee Mike Dean also hinted that Coote might have a chance to turn his life around. His position might become untenable, though, given the video that purports to show him snorting a white drug at the Euros.