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Richard Keys backs suspended Premier League referee David Coote and reveals reason he should be allowed to return before calling for officials to be randomly drugs tested

Richard Keys has come to the defence of suspended Premier League referee David Coote, with the broadcaster insisting he should be able to resume his career.

Coote has been suspended by referees’ body PGMOL, who launched an investigation after a video emerged of him calling manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German ****’ and Liverpool ‘s***’.

A video then emerged on Wednesday of a man alleged to be Coote snorting a white powder in a hotel room while he was officiating at last summer’s Euros.

The eight-second clip, leaked on Wednesday night and published by The Sun, allegedly shows the official using a rolled-up bank note to inhale the powder.