Premier League referee David Coote has been sacked by English soccer referees’ body PGMOL on Monday, after their investigation found his actions to be in serious breach of his contract.

Coote had been suspended last month after a video circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and former manager Juergen Klopp and after a full investigation, his position has been deemed untenable.

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

The Football Association also launched an investigation after Coote’s initial suspension on Nov. 11, and two days later PGMOL said they were taking fresh allegations very seriously.

The Sun published a video which the newspaper said showed Coote appearing to snort white powder during his time working as a match official at Euro 2024, and UEFA also launched an investigation having suspended the 42-year-old.

On Nov. 27, the FA said they were investigating allegations that Coote had discussed booking a player the day before a game with a friend, which the referee denied.

“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” the PGMOL statement added.

Coote has the right to appeal the decision.

-Reuters

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said it was a big moment for the club to secure their first win at Old Trafford since 1994 with a 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

Forest, who fought off relegation last season, are fifth in the league with 25 points from 15 matches, two points behind defending champions Manchester City.

“Huge moment for all of us in the club. So many years, now it’s time to celebrate,” Nuno told Forest TV. “First action of the game we score, makes a big difference.”

Forest, who had secured their first win at Anfield since 1969 by beating leaders Liverpool 1-0 in September, have grown as a team over the last year, Nuno said.

“The growing process of the team today was evident, the way we controlled the tempo of the game,” he added. “We have to be better … this is what we are achieving.

“Every day we should improve on. Because the talent is there. We still make mistakes that we should not have done.”

Forest next host Aston Villa, who are also on 25 points in sixth place, on Saturday.

Alex Iwobi scored with Fulham’s only two shots on target to lead them to a 3-1 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, after a major blunder by Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen had gifted the hosts an early lead.

Iwobi got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when Verbruggen tried to play the ball out but passed it straight to the Fulham forward who tapped into the far corner of the open net.

“We know that Brighton like to play out from the back so we came up with a structure and it obviously worked for the first goal,” Iwobi told Amazon Prime. “We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal.”

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said the goal should not have counted because he was fouled on the play.

“How the ref or VAR can’t see it, it is what it is,” Dunk said. “It’s annoying. If you watch the replay, it’s a clear foul, a push in my back.”

Brighton did look the more dangerous team and Carlos Baleba grabbed the equaliser in the 56th minute when Joao Pedro laid the ball off with a backheel and the midfielder fired in a blistering low shot before celebrating with a backflip.

Fulham retook the lead in the 79th minute on a wet and windy night at Craven Cottage when Andreas Pereira lashed in a corner which hit the back of Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and went into the net.

Iwobi completed his brace eight minutes later when he latched on to a pass from Antonee Robinson and spun past a defender before shooting into the far corner.

“It was a big three points for us in a tough game,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half.

“Second half we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. Difficult game but a big three points for us.”

Fulham climbed to sixth in the league table, one point behind fifth-placed Brighton, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler watched from the stands in frustration while serving a touchline ban.

His team squandered several good chances, including a strike from Pedro that Bernd Leno palmed aside and Simon Adingra fired straight at the Fulham keeper from a pinpoint cross by Kaoru Mitoma.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game,” Dunk said. “We picked ourselves up and I thought we were the better team, but that’s football.”

-Reuters