SHAMED ref David Coote sent messages arranging a drugs party just before a key game where he was officiating — and even during the half-time break.
A pal said they were shocked at Coote’s behaviour around last month’s Spurs Man City Carabao Cup clash, where he was fourth official.
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The 42-year-old was suspended this week for a foul-mouthed rant about Jurgen Klopp before footage emerged of him sniffing white powder in a hotel at Euro 2024.
We can now reveal that Coote tried to arrange a drugs party in a Travelodge for after the cup game at Spurs on October 30.
He booked the room at 7.38pm, just 37 minutes before the game was due to start, and sent a booking notification to someone else at 8.04pm, perilously close to kick-off.
Coote then took his spot on the touchline before messaging his pal at the break, saying “hope you’re getting ready” to meet.
The friend, who was watching the match in disbelief on the TV, told The Sun: “On the day of the game he was messaging me repeatedly and wanting a drugs party after he’d finished at Spurs.
“He didn’t book the Travelodge until just before kick-off, then sent a notification 11 minutes from the game starting. It was crazy.
“City striker Erling Haaland was on the bench, so I was watching them on TV pretty much side by side.
“And moments before and afterwards he sent me messages.
“When he messaged me at half-time I thought it was so surreal.
“Surely he should have been concentrating on the game, not arranging drugs parties.”
To Coote’s fury, the party never even happened. The pal said: “I didn’t feel like meeting up in the end so told him I couldn’t make it.
“He went mad and asked for the £73.99 total booking fee back.”
Uefa yesterday opened an investigation after we revealed footage of wide-eyed Coote snorting powder while on duty at the Euros.
He was already suspended by refs’ governing body PGMOL after he was filmed calling then-Liverpool boss Klopp a “German c***”.
The PGMOL has been approached for comment.
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‘No plans to test officials’
PREMIER League referees do not face mandatory drugs testing, it emerged last night.
Footballers and other sportspeople are subject to testing — anytime and anywhere — under the World Anti-Doping Authority code.
But it does not mention match officials, who are classed as “athlete support personnel”.
Despite ref David Coote’s powder video, The Sun understands there are no plans for future testing.
