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PGMOL urged to drug test Premier League referees following David Coote footage

<p>Premier League referee Coote is under investigation by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for initially appearing to call&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/pgmol-video-storm-footage-allegedly-showing-premier-league-referee-david-coote-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-under-investigation/bltae0bbb3dbe3312b2#csfeb83c04e64428cb">Liverpool "sh*t" and their former manager Jurgen Klopp a "German c*nt",</a> before footage emerged of the 42-year-old <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/uefa-statement-suspended-referee-david-coote-new-video-alleged-cocaine-use-euro-2024/blt27469970cdeaffcb">snorting a white substance at Euro 2024</a>. Now, ex-referee Keith Hackett says drug tests must be introduced for officials - something he claims he has long pushed for.</p><p></p><p></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He told <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/11/14/pgmol-facing-calls-drug-test-referees-david-coote-scandal/" target="_blank"><em>The Telegraph</em></a>: "What is really concerning me is that the integrity of every referee in the organisation is now in question. I thought, if the players have to go through this process, why not referees? That wasn’t accepted by the board. I think, at that particular time, it was just rejected as, ‘It doesn’t happen to referees’.</p><p>"We have started to discuss this and this is something for the future which will be discussed to possibly include an anti-doping programme for referees. We do not have an indication that this is a problem but this is something we have to look at. The referees are a neglected population."</p>

WHAT KEITH HACKETT SAID

<p>Hot on the heels of the two aforementioned scandals, Coote - who is currently suspended - was embroiled in another one after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/shamed-david-coote-accused-setting-up-drugs-party-before-tottenham-carabao-cup-win-over-man-city-fourth-official/blt9ea899d017b4270e" target="_blank">allegedly sending messages to arrange a 'drugs party'</a> before and during the half-time break of Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Manchester City last month. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Coote, who is under<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/uefa-statement-suspended-referee-david-coote-new-video-alleged-cocaine-use-euro-2024/blt27469970cdeaffcb" target="_blank"> investigation by the PGMOL, the Football Association, and UEFA</a>, will have to wait and see what punishment comes his way and if he can continue in this line of work.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

PGMOL urged to drug test Premier League referees following David Coote footage | Goal.com

A former Premier League referee has called on officials to be drugs tested amid David Coote&apos;s ongoing list of scandals.