THE FA says it is urgently investigating allegations referee David Coote discussed showing a yellow card with a fan before a match.

The Sun claims 42-year-old Coote, who strongly denies any wrongdoing, discussed the prospect of booking then Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski with a supporter of the West Yorkshire club the day before a game in October 2019.

The newspaper alleges that after Coote booked the player, he messaged the individual back to say: “I hope you backed as discussed.”