Snorting ref David Coote set up drugs party in Travelodge before Man City game – & even sent half time text about it

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.

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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.

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“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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