
Audio By Carbonatix
Referees' body PGMOL says it is taking new allegations around Premier League official David Coote "very seriously".
Coote is suspended from his role pending an investigation into a video which emerged earlier this week, in which the 42-year-old appeared to make disparaging remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
On Wednesday the Sun newspaper published pictures it says were taken during this summer's European Championship, alleging they appear to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.
Coote was working at the Euros in his capacity as a match official.
A PGMOL spokesperson said: "We are aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously.
"David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.
"David's welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage."
The Sun says images of Coote were sent to a friend on more than one occasion during the tournament.
The BBC has not independently verified the pictures or the video.
The BBC has approached Coote for comment.
Meanwhile European football’s governing body Uefa has confirmed to BBC Sport that the official has been suspended following the appearance of the original video.
Uefa said on Tuesday that Coote had been withdrawn from an international commitment this week and on Wednesday a spokesperson added: "The Uefa Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November - in advance of the upcoming round of Uefa matches - when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour."
Latest Stories
-
Declare a state of emergency if more rain is expected – Bawumia tells gov’t
19 minutes -
Many blacks make it difficult for fellow blacks to succeed after they rise – Prof. Enoch Antwi
23 minutes -
I watched my father being beaten up and jailed – Prof. Antwi opens up on childhood trauma
25 minutes -
Academic City Dean Prof. Antwi exposes flaws in Ghana’s education model
29 minutes -
I nearly missed sixth form because of GH₵67 – Prof. Opoku Antwi
36 minutes -
Man found dead on Kasoa-Accra highway after heavy downpour
38 minutes -
Academics urged to ground research in African values
38 minutes -
Government begins distributing relief items to flood victims
39 minutes -
Digital payments are transforming Ghana’s SMEs, says MobileMoney Fintech
41 minutes -
Karpowership expands fleet with a new Sea Lion class powership
1 hour -
Supreme Court spurns Trump on birthright citizenship, allows transgender sports bans
1 hour -
Meta loses bid to dismiss US states’ claims that Facebook, Instagram addict children
1 hour -
US Supreme Court to hear Apple appeal of contempt in Epic Games lawsuit
1 hour -
Access Bank partners with Birmingham City University to champion green financing for SMEs
1 hour -
Flooding in Ghana: Are we paying the price for policy misjudgement?
1 hour