Premier League referee David Coote, who is currently suspended, is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Football Association. The investigation was initiated due to recent allegations that Coote engaged in a conversation with a fan during a match, discussing the possibility of issuing a yellow card to a player.

Coote has firmly denied any wrongdoing or misconduct related to these allegations, according to The SUN.

The publication reported that Coote allegedly engaged in a discussion with a supporter regarding the potential issuance of a booking to Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski prior to a Championship match against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.

It is further alleged that subsequent to issuing the booking, Coote sent a message to the fan stating, “I hope you backed as discussed.”

The FA has responded to these allegations, stating, “These are very serious allegations, and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”

Coote provided a statement to The Sun, asserting, “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.”

On November 12, Coote was suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after a video surfaced in which he made inappropriate remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. Both the PGMOL and the FA have initiated investigations into this matter.

Additionally, UEFA has begun its own investigation into Coote following a video, also released by The Sun, that allegedly shows him using cocaine during this year's European Championship.

In response to the latest allegations regarding the yellow card incident, the PGMOL stated, “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials annually. The PGMOL Board is committed to taking appropriate action should any breach of that code be proven.”

In response to the recent allegation concerning the yellow card incident during the Leeds match, the PGMOL stated that it is essential to establish the facts given the seriousness of these claims. They emphasized their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding any violations of their Integrity Code of Conduct, which all match officials sign annually. 

The PGMOL Board is dedicated to taking appropriate measures if any breach of this code is confirmed. Subsequently, Leeds issued a statement acknowledging the allegations and expressing their respect and full confidence in the regulations and processes of the FA, EFL (English Football League), and PGMOL.