UEFA investigate Coote after new video, Arsenal blow, Carsley on Kane comments

‘Tarnished the image of refereeing’

Ex-PGMOL boss Keith Hackett has labelled Premier League referee David Coote’s actions as ‘quite unbelievable’.

The former official believes that the two leaked videos of Coote put the whole refereeing industry’s integrity into doubt.

And he has called for the PGMOL to potentially begin drug testing for officials at all levels of the game.

“There’s no doubt he is one bad apple in a barrel,” Hackett said on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan. “We shouldn’t tarnish every referee because we’ve got one bad one.

“As an employer, the PGMOL has a duty of care towards its employees. When we look at drug-taking in business, it is seen as an illness. It might not be so easy to just discard Coote and move forward.

“They will have to come to some sort of arrangement.

“In terms of the PGMOL, I would like to make one point. Some years ago, when I was the boss, we had a problem in East Germany with a referee fixing matches and gambling.

“I came to the board and put forward two things. Betting on football for our match officials in the PGMOL was banned worldwide. They accepted that immediately.

“I then got into the realms of WADA and drug testing. I had no suspicions at the time and I’m not being clever now. But, moving forward, they will have to take this into account.

“The actions of Coote are quite unbelievable and they have tarnished the image of refereeing. This affects referees at all levels of the game. It puts into doubt their integrity.

“Rarely do you come across a referee as stupid as Coote. I can’t think of another case. Other than, obviously, we had Bobby Madley.

“The PGMOL runs a very tight regime looking after the care of match officials and protecting the integrity of the game.”

When asked to add more on whether he thinks referees should be drug tested, Hacket added: “I would bring it in as a defence mechanism. It might seem like an extreme. Just put a barrier up.

“I’m shocked by the fact there’s a video we’ve all seen. I’m absolutely gobsmacked this could happen with a professional sportsperson. That’s what referees are.”