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Former Premier League referee David Coote has been banned from officiating in UEFA competitions for 16 months. European football’s governing body confirmed on Friday Coote had been sanctioned for “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” and “bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute”. Advertisement He is banned from participating in any UEFA refereeing activity until June 30, 2026.
Coote was suspended by the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and UEFA on November 11 after a video emerged on social media of the 42-year-old making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. On November 14, UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to evaluate a potential violation of the governing body’s disciplinary regulations. Coote had his contract terminated by PGMOL in December following an investigation into his conduct.
On November 14, The Sun published a separate video which it claimed showed Coote sniffing white powder through a rolled-up bank note. The PGMOL’s investigation related to both incidents, while Coote remains the subject of a separate Football Association (FA) investigation over an alleged betting breach, which he denies. Both PGMOL and UEFA investigations were launched after a video emerged appearing to show Coote and another man discussing a Premier League match between Liverpool and Burnley during the Covid-disrupted 2019-20 season.
Coote, who was the fourth official for the fixture, called Liverpool’s performance “s***”, adding of Klopp: “He accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me. “I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f***ing arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him.
You can see me there with mask on. Social distancing — 10 metres apart. But my God, German c***, f*** me.
” A second video appearing to show Coote sniffing white powder was published three days later, which The Sun reported 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 Athletic has been unable to verify the video nor confirm Coote’s identity. Advertisement In an interview with The Sun on January 27, Coote came out as gay and said that the effects of hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.
“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position,” said Coote. “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. Coote also addressed his use of cocaine.
“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.
It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.” GO DEEPER The inside story of David Coote, PGMOL and the Premier League's biggest refereeing crisis A separate investigation was launched by the FA over allegations, first reported by The Sun, relating to a booking received by Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski from Coote during their Championship game against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019. It is claimed Coote discussed the possibility of issuing Alioski a yellow card with a friend before the game.
The Sun reported Coote accepted a discussion with a friend had taken place, but that nothing inappropriate happened, nor is it suggested he gained financially from the booking. Alioski was booked for a late, sliding challenge and the decision appears routine. Coote released a statement in response to “strongly refute” what he called “false and defamatory allegations”.
He added: “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.” Coote’s most recent 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. (Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images).
