David Coote has opened up about his sexuality, drug use and the pressures of being a Premier League referee in a tell-all interview almost two months after he was sacked by the PGMOL.
The 42-year-old became the subject of controversy in November 2024 after an unverified video that showed him calling former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp “f***ing arrogant” and a “German c***” surfaced online.
The Sun subsequently published a video of Coote snorting a white powder while reportedly working at Euro 2024. He was sacked in December following an investigation by the PGMOL into both videos.
Coote is also subject to another investigation by the FA into allegations of spot-fixing after he reportedly discussed the possibility of issuing Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski a yellow card with a friend before a game against West Bromwich Albion in 2019.
In a sit-down interview with The Sun, Coote denies the alleged betting breach, says he “deeply regrets” his remarks about Klopp, discusses taking cocaine and why he hid the fact he is gay from the public. He also says he has kicked his drug habit after seeking therapy.
David Coote on his sexuality
“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.
“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.
“I’ve had issues around my self-esteem — and that relates to my sexuality. I’m gay and I’ve struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time.
“I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.
“There’s a lot to be done throughout football and more widely in society with regard to discrimination.
“I didn’t want to be that person that was putting their head above the parapet to be shot at, given the abuse we all get as a referee in any event.”
