Shamed David Coote at centre of betting probe after discussing booking player BEFORE game & saying ‘I hope you backed’

EMBARRASSED referee David Coote was at the center of an FA betting investigation last night after it emerged he discussed giving a yellow card before a match.

Coote, 42, then messaged a friend: “Hope you were supportive as discussed.”

The FA said it was investigating the “very serious allegations as a matter of urgency”.

Coote denies all allegations.

The referees' organization PGMOL – which suspended Coote earlier this month for a foul-mouthed tirade about ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – last night looked into the latest “very serious allegations”.

A separate investigation was also “urgently” launched by the FA into the reports, which came before and after the match between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.

It is understood Coote accepts a discussion took place but claims it was just “banter” and nothing inappropriate took place.

There is no indication that the referee obtained any financial benefit.

Coote, who snorted white powder at the European Championships this summer, said in a statement last night: “Whatever problems I have had in my personal life have never affected my decision-making on the pitch.

“I have always upheld the integrity of the game, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

In the new exchange discovered by The Sun, Coote appears keen to impress a Leeds fan he met online.

He bragged that he would feature in the upcoming Leeds-West Brom championship match.

The friend says he jokingly told Coote to give a yellow card to Leeds left-back Ezgjan Alioski so he could place a bet on it in advance with the bookmakers.

The day before the match, Coote tells him: “Yes, very well, I have Leeds tomorrow.”

The friend replied: “Ooh big game. We still continue with what we discussed (Alioski). If so, maybe I can come with you.”

Coote replies: “Haha, I don't know what you mean.”

His friend then posts: “Haha, I'm going there tomorrow morning so don't let me down.”

Coote replied: “Haha will see.”

The following evening, Alioski was shown a yellow card in the 18th minute of the match for a sliding challenge on Darnell Furlong.

Football experts said last night that the booking was fully justified given the nature of the tackle.

Leeds eventually won the match 1-0 thanks to a goal from Alioski.

The next day, Coote messaged his friend again to say: “What a day yesterday. I hope you supported it as discussed.”

The friend tells him he didn't put any money on it, but he believes another friend “was behind it.”

Coote then replies: “Haha, then he'll have to share it with you.”

Football bosses last night investigated the latest shocking revelations to ensure there is no corruption within the sport.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the friend told The Sun yesterday: “My first contact with David Coote was online. When I talked to him a little longer, I discovered his job as a football referee.

“I jokingly told him to give Alioski a yellow card in Leeds United's match against West Bromwich Albion the next day so I could back this up with the bookmakers.

“He replied sarcastically: 'Haha, I'll see.' The next day, eighteen minutes into the match, Alioski received a yellow card.

“It was Leeds' only yellow card in the match.

“He messaged me a little while after the game and said, 'I hope you'll be supportive as discussed'.”

The latest allegations come after Coote was suspended for a tirade about Liverpool and their then manager Klopp.

Last night, sources close to the referee suggested he may have engaged in “inappropriate banter” and sent “thoughtless” messages.

But they ruled out any suggestion of corruption or deliberate booking of players, saying he always acted with “integrity and impartiality”.

The PGMOL said last night: “The facts must be established in the light of these very serious allegations.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed annually by all match officials.

“The PMOL Board is committed to taking appropriate action if a breach of the Code is proven. David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate from the investigation into this matter to be conducted independently by the FA.

“We will make no further comment at this stage.”

The Football Association added: “These are very serious allegations and we are investigating them urgently.”