David Coote has been sacked after his position as a Premier League referee was “deemed untenable” following the unprecedented scandal to engulf him.

Coote’s contract with Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) was terminated with immediate effect after what had been almost a month of mounting revelations and accusations since he was suspended over a leaked video showing him calling Jürgen Klopp a “German c---”.

PGMOL and the Football Association launched an investigation into the video, which was followed two days later by footage appearing to show him snorting white powder in a hotel room during this summer’s European Championship.

A little over two weeks after that, those investigations were widened after it emerged Coote had discussed a bet on a yellow card before he took charge of a match, capping a scandal that has risked seriously undermining fan confidence in the integrity of Premier League referees.

PGMOL said in a statement: “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.

“David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.

“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.

“David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.”

Coote was suspended on November 11 following the emergence of two clips in which he called Klopp “f------ arrogant” during an exchange with former Nottinghamshire cricketer Ben Kitt, who has returned to work following an investigation into his own conduct.

The footage appears to have been filmed in the wake of Liverpool’s’ 7-2 thrashing at Aston Villa in October 2020.

Credit: X / @AnfieldEdition

A further clip was then released in which Coote appeared to snort white powder in footage allegedly filmed during Euro 2024, where he officiated.

An eight-second film allegedly showing him with a rolled-up banknote was said to have been taken 24 hours after he provided video assistant referee assistance for France’s quarter-final win over Portugal, played in Hamburg on July 5.

The video, reportedly shared via WhatsApp by Coote, shows white powder on a bedside table alongside prescription drugs, a credit card and the Terry Hayes novel The Year of the Locust. The footage was believed to have been taken in a Uefa-funded hotel room.

A separate photo sent from Frankfurt on July 1 allegedly shows Coote’s credit cards on a saucer either side of six lines of powder.

Just under a fortnight ago, The Sun newspaper published details of messages sent by Coote to a friend in which he wrote, “I hope you backed as discussed”, in the hours after he booked Leeds United left-back Ezgjan Alioski in a 2019 Championship fixture.

Coote denies any allegation of corruption, but both the FA and the refereeing body PGMOL carried out urgent inquiries into the latest scandal to engulf the official.

In the messages, Coote was reportedly in contact with a friend, including references to gambling both before and after Leeds’ 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.

The Sun claims a friend of Coote jokingly told him ahead of the game to give a yellow card to Alioski so he could put a bet on it.

When Coote informed him that he had “Leeds tomorrow” via text, the friend reportedly replied: “Ooh big game. We still on for what we ­discussed [Alioski]. Maybe I could join you if so.”

Coote replied: “Haha don’t know what you mean.”

His friend then posted: “Haha well I’m off to back it in the morning so don’t let me down.” Coote answered: “Haha will see.”

The day after Alioski was booked in the 18th minute for a foul on Darnell Furlong, Coote messaged his friend again, reportedly saying: “What a day yesterday. I hope you backed as discussed.”

According to The Sun, the friend then told him that he did not put money on it but he believed another friend “backed it though”.

Coote then replied: “Haha he will have to share with you then.”

Any gambling discussions by referees involving matches they are officiating can be deemed major breaches of the industry’s Integrity Code of Conduct.

The FA said: “These are very serious allegations and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”

PGMOL added: “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.”

Coote is believed to accept a discussion took place, but claims it was only “banter” and nothing improper occurred. There is no suggestion that the referee made any financial gain.

Coote told The Sun: “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 friend, who shared the messages with The Sun, said he had met Coote online. “I jokingly told him to give Alioski a yellow card in the Leeds United game the following day against West Bromwich Albion, so I could back this in the bookies,” the friend told The Sun.

Telegraph Sport has been told the FA’s own investigation into Coote’s conduct remains ongoing.