If David Coote is dismissed, Saudi Arabia may invite him to officiate

According to reports, if David Coote is ultimately dismissed by PGMOL, he may look to continue his refereeing career in Saudi Arabia.

The *Daily Mail* reports that the FA has now joined the investigation into David Coote, and they have launched their own inquiry, which could lead to serious misconduct charges, as mentioning someone's nationality could result in sanctions. If Coote is dismissed — something many believe is likely — he may seek to restart his career in the Middle East.

Earlier this year, PGMOL stopped allowing its referees to officiate abroad, ending a popular extra income source. This followed criticism from clubs and fans after some officials were found to be working overseas on one-off assignments.

Michael Oliver previously officiated the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match in Saudi Arabia and earned £3,000 and a business-class flight. However, PGMOL's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb stated that overseas assignments would only be approved if they provided "development opportunities" for referees (such as younger ones) to gain valuable experience.

Officials from the Saudi Pro League are keen to continue raising standards, and it's common to bring in referees from abroad. However, insiders say that Saudi Arabia is seen as a "dumping ground" for referees with issues elsewhere, which is a sensitive matter. They must be convinced that the benefits of bringing in an experienced referee like David Coote outweigh the potential negative impacts of his background.