Former Premier League official David Coote has been handed a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
Court Imposes Suspended Sentence and Prevention Order
Nottingham Crown Court sentenced Coote to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, on Thursday 8 January 2026. The charge related to a category A video, the most severe classification, depicting a 15-year-old boy, which police discovered on his laptop in February of the previous year.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court imposed a stringent 10-year sexual harm prevention order. This order places strict restrictions on Coote's contact and communication with children.
A Cascade of Professional Downfall
This conviction is the latest in a series of controversies that have ended Coote's refereeing career. He was previously dismissed from his role by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024.
That dismissal followed an investigation into comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, which included a reference to Klopp's nationality.
His fall from grace was compounded by a separate incident during Euro 2024. UEFA issued him a ban until June 2026 after a video emerged appearing to show him snorting a white powder while in Germany for the tournament.
Legal Outcome Avoids Immediate Custody
The suspended nature of the sentence means the 42-year-old will not serve immediate jail time provided he does not breach the terms of his sentence over the next two years. However, his name will be subject to sex offender notification requirements.
The case highlights the serious legal consequences for possession of such material, regardless of the defendant's public profile. Coote's once-prominent career in English football, which included officiating in the Premier League and as a VAR official, is now definitively over.
