1 day Ago
David Coote, the former Premier League referee sacked after making derogatory comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has come out publicly as being gay and said that hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal. On December 9, Coote had his contract terminated by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following an investigation into his conduct. Advertisement The 42-year-old was suspended by the refereeing body on November 11 after a video emerged on social media in which he called Klopp “f***ing arrogant” and a “German c***”.
On November 14, The Sun published a separate video which it claimed showed Coote sniffing white powder through a rolled-up American bank note. GO DEEPER The inside story of David Coote, PGMOL and the Premier League's biggest refereeing crisis In an interview with The Sun published on Monday , Coote said that he first came out as gay to his parents at the age of 21 and his friends at the age of 25, but the “macho world” of football contributed to his decision to keep his sexuality a secret. He also said that since his dismissal he has been in an “incredibly dark place”.
He said: “My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. 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. “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.” In the interview, Coote is asked about the video that appeared to show him snorting cocaine. “It’s not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,” Coote 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. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.
” The Sun reported that the video showing Coote with the white powder was from July 6, one day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal in Hamburg where Coote was the support VAR. The PGMOL’s investigation related to the derogatory comments made about Klopp and the subsequent video published by The Sun. He remains the subject of a separate Football Association (FA) investigation over an alleged betting breach relating to a booking given to Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski during their Championship game against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.
It was alleged he discussed issuing a yellow card with a friend before the match. Advertisement Coote has previously denied any wrongdoing, saying in November:“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations. “Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field.
I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.” Asked about the betting allegation by The Sun, Coote said: “I received nothing for it. I’m really disappointed that anything like this has come out because it tarnishes the integrity of the game.
And whatever people think of me as a referee, as a human I have always gone out and done my best on the pitch.” Coote declined to appeal against the decision to terminate his employment. His last game as a Premier League referee was Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on November 9.
The Nottinghamshire-born official took charge of his first top-flight game in 2017-18 and was named a Select One referee, the highest level in the UK, for the following campaign. (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images).
