David Coote breaks silence as FA Investigate Premier League referee over betting claims

Premier League referee David Coote has broken his silence after it emerged he was at the centre of a betting probe.

The whistler, who was suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) earlier this month after a video emerged showing him making comments about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, is now at the centre of a fresh investigation into betting - launched by the FA.

The 42-year-old was suspended by the PGMOL earlier this month for calling former Liverpool manager Klopp a "German c***" after an old video clip went viral on social media. Coote was then the subject of further controversy when footage of him allegedly snorting a white powder was also leaked.

And it has now emerged that he allegedly discussed giving a yellow card before a EFL match, saying in a message: “I hope you backed as discussed.”

In a report by The Sun, who revealed the probe, The FA said it was investigating the “very serious allegations as a matter of urgency”.

However he has now broken his silence, saying that he "strongly refutes false and defamatory allegations" that he deliberately booked a player, which is now at the centre of the FA investigation.

In his first statement since the scandal, Coote said: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they 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.”