David Coote has denied new allegations against him after the Football Association launched an investigation into claims that the suspended Premier League referee discussed giving a yellow card before a match.
The 42-year-old had already been suspended by the PGMOL subject to an investigation being carried out over comments he made about Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in a leaked video.
Coote was also allegedly filmed in a separate video snorting a white powder and is under investigation by the FA and UEFA, in addition to PGMOL. Coote has not responded to these allegations.
But he finds himself in hot water once again after the FA confirmed they are investigating allegations that he had discussed handing out a yellow card with a friend before a match in October 2019, sparking a potential betting scandal.
Coote released a statement on Tuesday in which he strongly denied the allegations, which he claimed were "false and defamatory."
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It read: "I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. 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."
The Sun report the Nottinghamshire referee met a Leeds United fan online and 'bragged' that he was going to officiate a Championship fixture between Leeds United and West Brom.
It is claimed the unidentified man jokingly told Coote to dish out a yellow card to Leeds left-back Ezgjan Alioski as he was going to place a bet on the North Macedonian receiving a caution.
The official is accused of messaging the man post-match to say: "I hope you backed as discussed."
The FA have confirmed it is investigating the latest incident allegedly involving Coote "as a matter of urgency" and described the allegations as "very serious."
Responding to the latest allegations against Coote, a PGMOL spokesperson said: "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 on an annual basis. PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
"David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA."
