Coote was initially suspended by the PGMOL on 11 November after a video emerged on social media of him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager Jurgen Klopp.

He now says he apologises “to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions” and that he “was not sober” at the time the video was recorded.

On 13 November, the Sun published photos it says were taken during last year’s European Championship, alleging that they appeared to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.

His conduct is under investigation by the Football Association and European football’s governing body Uefa.

Coote told the Sun he has been in an “incredibly dark place” since the photographs of him at the Euros were published and he was “not sure I’d here today” without the support of family and colleagues.

On 27 November, the FA opened a new investigation following an allegation that Coote had discussed giving a yellow card before a Championship match between Leeds and West Brom in 2019. He has always denied these allegations.

Discussing the events that led up to his sacking, he says his mum died suddenly in 2023 and at the same time his uncle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

In the 2023-24 season, he says he officiated more than 90 games around the world, followed by the European Championship and then the Olympics, and struggled with the pressure and stress of his work, adding: “The physical and psychological demands on match officials is really significant.

“I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me. I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping.”

Coote told the Sun he is over his drug habit after having therapy and felt “a huge sense of shame” for what happened.

“I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now. I’ve taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from a physical and a mental wellbeing [perspective],” he added.

“To other people who are in my situation, I’d say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way.”

BBC Sport has contacted the PGMOL for comment.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can visit the BBC’s Action Line for information and support on addiction.