Former Premier League referee David Coote has been banned by Uefa from any officiating activity until June 2026.
Coote’s contract as an elite referee with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) was terminated in December after a video emerged showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jürgen Klopp. A separate video also showed Coote taking cocaine. The latter incident took place during the 2024 European Championships, where the 42-year-old was an official.
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PGMOL said the official was in serious breach of his employment contract and his actions made his position “untenable”. European football’s control, ethics and disciplinary body met last week and also ruled Coote had violated the basic rules of decent conduct and brought football, and Uefa in particular, into disrepute. “Mr David Coote Incidents and sanction: General principles of conduct, Art. 11(1) DR, Violating the basic rules of decent conduct, Art. 11(2)(b) DR, Bringing the sport of football, and Uefa in particular, into disrepute, Art. 11(2)(d) DR, Ban from exercising any Uefa refereeing activity until 30 June 2026,” read a statement.
Coote came out as gay in an interview with the Sun in January and said his struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to his making bad choices, such as the video about Liverpool and his use of drugs. “I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn’t come out to my friends until I was 25,” he said. “I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.
“I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love. I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think.”
Sources close to Coote, who also told the Sun about the mental strain created by the abuse he faced, which included death threats aimed at him and his mother, say he is keeping an open mind about what he may look to do next. He is understood to remain confident that a Football Association investigation into messages exchanged with a Leeds fan concerning showing a yellow card to one of their players in 2019 will clear him.
