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

The Professional Game Match Official Ltd. (PGMOL) has been encouraged to implement drug testing for referees after video evidence that appeared to show David Coote sniffing a white substance was made public.

In a video clip that was leaked on Wednesday, a guy who is believed to be Premier League referee Coote can be seen snorting a white substance while working inside of a hotel room. The footage is only eight seconds long. According to The Sun, the video was captured the day after the 42-year-old official was on duty during the match between France and Portugal that was part of the Euro 2024 tournament. He was working as a VAR assistance official throughout the match.

Following the release of a different video on Monday, in which Coote seemed to refer to former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as a “German c**t,” this revelation came as a result.

Coote has been placed on suspension by the PGMOL awaiting the completion of an exhaustive investigation, and Uefa has taken similar actions in response to the appearance of the second video.

It was stated that the tape was shot in a hotel room that was subsidised by the European Football Association (UEFA).

According to Keith Hackett, a former referees head, the English football authorities have previously thwarted plans to implement drug testing in recent years. He insists that the tests that are routinely performed on players should now be expanded to include match officials.

“The fact that the integrity of each and every referee in the organisation is currently being called into question is the thing that is really bothering me,” As Hackett stated to The Telegraph

Hackett revealed that he originally advocated drug testing for referees twenty years ago. He approached the PGMOL board, which is comprised of the top executives of the Football Association, Premier League, and English Football League, with his suggestion.

He expressed his thoughts by saying, “If the players are required to go through this process, then why not the referees?” That was not something that the board agreed with. During that specific period of time, I believe that it was simply dismissed with the statement, “It does not happen to referees.”

“We have begun to discuss this, and this is something that will be discussed in the future, and it may include an anti-doping program for referees,” the statement said.