David Coote, a former Premier League official, is set to learn his fate this week after admitting to a serious criminal charge. The ex-referee will appear at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
A Stunning Fall from Grace
The path to this week's sentencing hearing has been a protracted and dramatic one, marking a stunning professional and personal collapse for the former match official. Coote's troubles began publicly in November 2024, when he was suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). This action followed the emergence of a video showing him using offensive language about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. The footage, which was several years old, triggered an immediate probe into his conduct and neutrality.
His professional unravelling accelerated rapidly. Shortly after that initial suspension, a second video surfaced, this time allegedly showing Coote using a white powder while working at Euro 2024. This prompted UEFA to launch disciplinary proceedings and suspend him from all European duties.
Contract Termination and Personal Disclosure
By December 2024, the PGMOL's internal investigation concluded, leading to the termination of Coote's contract with immediate effect. The governing body stated his actions were a serious breach of his employment terms, making his position untenable.
In a surprising turn the following month, Coote gave a public interview in January 2025. He came out as gay and discussed the significant mental health struggles he faced while concealing his sexuality during his career. He attributed some of his poor decision-making to these intense personal pressures.
Sporting Bans and Criminal Charges
The sporting sanctions continued to mount. In February 2025, UEFA formally banned Coote from all refereeing activities until 30 June 2026 for bringing the sport into disrepute, citing violations of basic rules of decent conduct.
The situation escalated beyond the sporting arena in August 2025. While the Football Association handed him an eight-week suspension for his earlier derogatory comments, police charged him with a far more severe offence. He was formally accused of making an indecent image of a child after authorities analysed electronic devices seized earlier in the year.
The criminal case reached a critical point in October 2025 at Nottingham Crown Court. Coote pleaded guilty to making a Category A indecent image of a child, the most severe classification under UK law. The court heard the file was discovered during a forensic examination of his equipment as part of the wider investigations. He had initially pleaded not guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court in September.
His sentencing was originally scheduled for December 2025 but was adjourned to 8 January 2026 due to the medical unavailability of his legal counsel. He is now due to appear in court this week to receive his final sentence for the grave charges to which he has admitted guilt.
