PGMOL taking new Coote allegations 'very seriously'

Referees' assemblage PGMOL says it is taking caller allegations astir Premier League authoritative David Coote "very seriously".

Coote is suspended from his role pending an probe into a video which emerged earlier this week, successful which the 42-year-old appeared to marque disparaging remarks astir erstwhile Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

On Wednesday the Sun paper published pictures it says were taken during this summer's European Championship, alleging they look to amusement Coote sniffing a achromatic pulverization done a rolled up US slope note.

Coote was moving astatine the Euros successful his capableness arsenic a lucifer official.

A PGMOL spokesperson said: "We are alert of the allegations and are taking them precise seriously.

"David Coote remains suspended pending a afloat investigation.

"David's payment continues to beryllium of utmost value to america and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing indispensable enactment helium needs done this period. We are not successful a presumption to remark further astatine this stage."

The Sun says images of Coote were sent to a person connected much than 1 juncture during the tournament.

The BBC has not independently verified the pictures oregon the video.

The BBC has approached Coote for comment.

Meanwhile European football’s governing assemblage Uefa has confirmed to BBC Sport that the authoritative has been suspended pursuing the quality of the archetypal video.

Uefa said connected Tuesday that Coote had been withdrawn from an planetary committedness this week and connected Wednesday a spokesperson added: "The Uefa Referees Committee instantly suspended David Coote until further announcement connected 11 November - successful beforehand of the upcoming circular of Uefa matches - erstwhile it became alert of his inappropriate behaviour."