Former Premier League Referee David Coote: From Top-Flight Official to Legal Troubles

Recent Developments

Former Premier League referee David Coote, aged 43 from Collingham, has been charged with making an indecent video of a child. He is scheduled to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 11. The charge relates to a video file recovered by officers in February 2025.

Professional Background

Coote, an English former football referee, began his Premier League career when he officiated his first match between Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion on 28 April 2018. He was subsequently promoted to Select Group 1 ahead of the 2018–19 season. His career highlights included officiating the 2023 EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Recent Controversies

Coote’s career took a dramatic turn when he was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024, following the circulation of a video showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. For these comments, he received an eight-week suspension from the Football Association in August 2025.

Personal Struggles

In January 2025, Coote publicly came out as gay, revealing he had hidden his sexuality throughout his career due to fears of abuse. He also disclosed battles with drug abuse, which he attributed to the challenges of concealing his identity.

Current Legal Situation

The current charge against Coote is classified as a Category A offence, which is considered the most serious of its category. The charge specifically relates to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos. He is currently on conditional bail.