PGMOL makes decision on drug testing referees after David Coote controversy

Soccer chiefs have and match officials following the recent scandal involving David Coote.

referee Coote has been suspended while an inquiry is underway after footage circulated online of him allegedly inhaling white powder. Coote had already been suspended when a video surfaced on social media in which he appeared to make negative remarks about and former manager .

A subsequent clip depicted him alleging sniffing white powder through a rolled-up US banknote. PGMOL 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."

Nonetheless, the football governing institutions - FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League, and WADA - have shown no inclination to enforce compulsory drug testing for referees. The claims that PGMOL currently does not plan to implement testing for referees and it is believed that the body will keep adhering to the current WADA guidelines.

According to the rules set by WADA, referees are not compelled to undergo drug tests. While some argue that certain substances wouldn't affect a referee's performance on the pitch, critics maintain that any drug use by an official in the workplace is ethically and morally unacceptable.

The idea of drug testing referees isn't a new one. Back in 2000, top-tier referee Keith Hackett suggested such tests, but the proposal was rejected due to fears of negative publicity. Amid the ongoing scandal, PGMOL has rallied behind 42-year-old Coote, offering him support as the future of his professional career hangs in the balance.