David Coote: From Refereeing Premier League to Overcoming Personal Demons

Former Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and apologized for past scandals, including a viral video and allegations of drug use, as he opens up about his struggles with sexuality and addiction.

Disgraced former Premier League referee David Coote has publicly apologized for his past scandals and come out as gay. In an interview with The Sun, Coote revealed that he had struggled with his sexuality throughout his career, fearing the abuse he would receive from fans. He admitted to turning to drugs and being in a “dark place” due to the pressures of hiding his true self.

Coote, 42, acknowledged that the “pressures of the job” contributed to his poor decision-making, which ultimately led to his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December. He expressed regret over a viral video that showed him criticizing former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, stating that “he did not recognise himself” in that moment.

EXCL: Emotional David Coote bravely comes out as gay pic.twitter.com/bMEvawLJ7P

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 27, 2025

In the interview, published on Monday night, Coote openly discussed his struggles with his sexuality, saying: “I'm gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being 'me' over a long period of time.” He explained that he had received “deeply unpleasant abuse” during his career as a referee and feared that revealing his sexuality would have made things even more difficult.

Coote emphasized that his sexuality was not the sole reason for his downfall, but rather one aspect of a broader struggle. “My sexuality isn't the only reason that led me to be in that position,” he said. “But I'm not telling an authentic story if I don't say that I'm gay and that I've had real struggles dealing with hiding that.” He acknowledged that hiding his emotions and sexuality had led to a “whole course of behaviours” that ultimately harmed him.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has released a statement in his first interview since being sacked by the PGMOL. pic.twitter.com/1ny3f9PjGF

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 27, 2025

Coote reflected on the personal costs of hiding his true self, saying: “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.” His decision to come out and share his story marks a significant step in his personal journey towards healing and redemption.

A viral video surfaced, showing David Coote making derogatory comments about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. In the video, Coote describes Klopp as “an absolute c_nt” and “f_cking arrogant.” When asked why he held this opinion, Coote recounted an incident after a match between Liverpool and Burnley during lockdown in 2020. “Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f_cking pop at me,” Coote said. He added, “I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f_cking arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him.”

Coote's comments in the video were not limited to Klopp, as he also made positive remarks about Liverpool player James Milner, saying “(James) Milner is all right, I get on with him.” However, his overall demeanor and language in the video raised concerns about his behavior and professionalism.

PGMOL investigated a second video that emerged in November, allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder during the Euro 2024 tournament, where he was working as a VAR assistant. UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter. Additionally, the FA is probing an allegation that Coote discussed giving a yellow card before Leeds' match against West Brom in October 2019, which Coote has refuted.

In an interview with The Sun, Coote acknowledged his past mistakes and expressed gratitude for the support of his loved ones. He stated, “I don't recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can't resonate with how I felt then, but that was me.” Coote explained that he was struggling with the demands of his job and turned to drugs as a means of escape. “I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position - escaping.”

Coote emphasized that he is no longer using drugs and is focused on improving his physical and mental well-being. “I'm guilty of doing what I did, but I'm trying to be the best person that I can be now. I've taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from physical and mental well-being.” He acknowledged the significant demands placed on match officials and the importance of seeking help when needed.

Coote clarified that his drug use was not a daily or weekly habit, but rather an occasional means of escape. “It's not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,” he said. “I've had long periods where I've not used it - but it was one of the escape routes I had. Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job.”

Coote expressed remorse for his past actions and encouraged others who may be struggling to seek help. “To other people who are in my situation, I'd say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done it has to come out in some way.” He reflected on the importance of prioritizing his well-being and relationships. “I've found it easier since knowing my fate and being able to re-evaluate what's important to me. To spend some quality time with family and friends, and take time to make sure I'm in the best place to move forwards.”