FA investigating allegations referee David Coote discussed booking player before a game

SHAMED ref David Coote was at the centre of an FA betting probe last night after it emerged he discussed giving a yellow card before a match. 

Coote, 42, messaged a pal afterwards: “I hope you backed as discussed.” 

Refs’ body the PGMOL — which suspended Coote earlier this month over a foul-mouthed rant about ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp — was last night poring over the latest “very serious allegations”. 

A separate investigation was also launched by the FA “as a matter of urgency” into the messages, which came before and after a Leeds United versus West Bromwich Albion game in October 2019.