LEEDS have broken their silence after shamed referee David Coote was investigated for booking one of their players.
The referee is at the centre of an FA betting probe after it emerged he discussed giving a yellow card before a match.
The conversation occurred as Leeds took on West Brom in the Championship in October 2019.
During the game, he booked Leeds ace Ezgjan Alioski for a foul on Darnell Furlong, which experts have suggested was justified.
The 42-year-old messaged pals after the game saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
It is understood that Coote accepts a discussion took place, but claims it was only “banter” and nothing improper took place.
The FA said it was investigating the “very serious allegations as a matter of urgency”.
Leeds have now broken their silence on the matter with the release of a statement.
It read: “Leeds United are aware of allegations regarding the conduct of a match official, involving our Championship fixture v WBA in Oct 2019.
“We respect & have full confidence in the FA, EFL & PGMOL regulations & processes.
“We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Coote has denied any wrongdoing.
EXCLUSIVE by Martin Lipton
NO referees or match officials have ever been tested for drugs – as David Coote’s apparent “cocaine shame” is set to end his career.
While all players and other athletes in British sport are subject to drug testing rules, including post-match and out of competition action, the regulations do not apply to match officials.
That is the case globally across not just football and throughout the world rather than only in the UK.
All sports follow the World Anti-Doping Authority code, aimed at preventing athletes gaining an advantage by using performance-enhancing substances.
The Wada banned list also includes recreational drugs.
But the Wada provisions, also followed by UK Anti Doping, which conducts tests across British sport, makes no reference to match officials.
UKAD explains: “Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition,
“Or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme.
“Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.”
But the regulations do not apply to match officials – because of the “performance enhancing” provision of the world code.
The PGMOL have revealed they are aware of the video of him sniffing a white powder.
They told The Sun: “We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. 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.
“We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
There has also been no suggestion that he made any financial gains.
Coote maintained his innocence on the matter in a statement and claimed he has always held the “integrity of the game in the highest regard”.
A statement read: “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.”
Coote was suspended earlier this month for his foul-mouthed rant about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
He was also filmed snorting a white powder during the Euros this summer.
SunSport have exclusively reported that the referee is expected to QUIT from his role before he is sacked.
First video
First man: “What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm Liverpool were s***.”
First man: “What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “C***, absolute c***.”
First man: “Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown.
“Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me – and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant.
“So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner.”
First man: “James Milner, he gets on with James Milner.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “You can see me there with mask on.”
First man: “Mask on, obviously.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart.”
First man: “We have to social distance.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me.”
First man: “Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers.”
Second video
Second man (allegedly Coote): “Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously.”
First man: He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not f***ing ruin his career.
“Like let’s face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend.”
Second man (allegedly Coote): “So, yeah.”
First man: “So lets not ruin his career.”
