Former Premier League referee David Coote has insisted that his drug use had no bearing on his on-pitch decisions.

Coote was in October initially suspended by the referees’ body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), after a video of him calling ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “arrogant” and a “German c***” circulated on social media.

David Coote “deserves” to have a continued role in English football, the chairman of the Referees’ Association has said.