David Coote’s journey from Nottinghamshire’s local pitches to the glare of Premier League spotlights has recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Once a respected official trusted with some of English football’s highest-pressure matches, Coote’s career has dramatically unravelled following revelations of misconduct, sparking debate about professionalism and integrity in UK refereeing.
Early Beginnings: Paths to the Top Tier
Born in Nottingham in July 1982, David Coote grew up in the heartland of English football. Refereeing since age sixteen, he started with the Notts Alliance League before moving up through the Northern Counties East Football League, the Northern Premier League, and eventually the Conference North. After several seasons as an assistant referee in League Two, he was promoted to a lead role, making his debut at Stockport County vs Hereford United.
By 2014, David Coote had taken charge of notable fixtures, including the League One play-off final at Wembley. His move to the Premier League came in April 2018, overseeing Newcastle United’s 1-0 loss to West Brom. Just months later, he earned promotion to the Select Group 1 referee list, marking him as one of the country’s top officials.
Highs and Lows: Officiating Big Matches
Throughout his years at the top, David Coote earned assignments like the 2023 EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle United. Despite tactical criticism from managers and pundits, he was known for maintaining authority in high-pressure games, often in front of millions watching worldwide.
But his career was not without controversy. Coote faced criticism as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the infamous Everton-Liverpool match in October 2020, where Everton’s Jordan Pickford escaped punishment for a challenge that ended Virgil van Dijk’s season. The incident led to scrutiny, as Coote focused on a marginal offside over the tackle itself.
The Scandals: Private Comments Make Headlines
In November 2024, a video filmed in 2020 emerged on social media in which David Coote made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and called former manager Jürgen Klopp an “arrogant German c—”. He later admitted the video’s authenticity after first claiming it was fake, expressing remorse and apologising personally to Klopp and to football bodies. The FA charged Coote with an aggravated breach of their rules, since his words referenced nationality—a serious offence in the sport’s code of conduct.
A second scandal broke days later, when another video appeared to show David Coote snorting a white powder during Euro 2024. UEFA suspended him from officiating until June 2026, and his employer, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), swiftly concluded that his role as a referee had become “untenable,” sacking him with immediate effect in December 2024.
Investigation and Aftermath
Following these revelations, the Football Association launched its own inquiry. The governing body formally banned David Coote for eight weeks in August 2025, mandating a face-to-face education programme – now standard in cases of discriminatory or abusive behaviour. They concluded that his conduct in the Klopp video amounted to an “improper manner and/or abusive and/or insulting words,” with aggravated breaches given the nationality reference.
No action was taken over separate gambling allegations, after a thorough FA investigation found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing in a Championship match David Coote had overseen.
Public Response and Personal Reflections
The impact of David Coote’s actions has reverberated through UK football. Referees, clubs, and pundits urged a renewed focus on training, mental health support, and transparency in the sport. The incidents led to pointed criticism but also calls for compassion, as Coote revealed he struggled for years with self-esteem and hiding his sexuality as a gay man.
In January, David Coote came out publicly, pointing to the lifelong pressure and discrimination he faced, both as an official and as an individual. He described the challenges of hiding his identity in a high-profile role, linking the distress to his behaviour in the now-infamous Klopp video. “My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position,” he explained. “But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay and that I’ve had real struggles with hiding that”.
Lessons for UK Football
Coote’s case has underlined the need for better support and oversight in English refereeing. Football authorities have been urged to invest in mentor programmes, mental health resources, and diversity training at all levels of officiating. Clubs and fans have been reminded that referees are not infallible, nor immune to personal challenges.
The controversy also reignited debate over VAR use, referee protections from abuse, and the responsibilities of those in public sporting roles.
Conclusion: A Turning Point in Refereeing Culture
David Coote’s story serves as a warning and a lesson for British football. A career that began with promise and rose to the highest echelons now stands as an example of how personal turmoil and lapses in judgement can shape professional outcomes. As the FA, PGMOL, and UEFA look ahead, the hope is that safeguarding integrity, supporting officials, and learning from difficult headlines will help build a stronger, fairer future for the game.
Despite his mistakes, Coote’s honesty in confronting personal issues has brought an additional layer to the discussion—one of empathy, resilience, and the importance of being true to oneself, even amid the pressures of the public gaze.
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