David Coote, the former Premier League referee dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last year, has revealed that struggles with his sexuality played a significant role in the “really poor choices” that led to his downfall. In his first interview since the scandal, Coote opened up about the personal challenges he faced and how they contributed to his actions.
The 42-year-old was let go from his position after a series of videos were leaked online. In one of the videos, Coote was seen insulting former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, while in another, he was filmed snorting a white powder. Coote did not dispute the allegations but offered insight into the personal context behind his behavior. He explained that his issues with self-esteem, which were linked to his sexuality, played a part in his poor decision-making. “I’m gay and I’ve struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time,” Coote admitted.
Reflecting on his teenage years, Coote described a deep sense of shame that stemmed from hiding his sexuality. He did not come out to his parents until he was 21, and it wasn’t until he was 25 that he shared this part of his identity with his friends. While he acknowledged that his sexuality was not the sole factor behind his actions, he emphasized that it was important to share his story authentically. “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,” Coote explained, adding that this internalized struggle led to a pattern of behavior that ultimately affected his career.
The pressure of being a high-level referee, along with the ongoing challenges related to his sexuality, added to the stresses Coote was already facing. He revealed that he used drugs as an escape from the relentless demands of his job. “It’s not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,” he clarified. “But it was one of the escape routes I had. Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job.” He expressed regret for taking this route, admitting that it filled him with shame.
Coote also addressed the video in which he was seen snorting cocaine while working as a VAR official at the European Championship last summer. “I don’t recognize myself in the cocaine video,” he said, confirming the substance in the video. He explained that the pressure of his schedule had left him feeling overwhelmed, leading him to seek an escape through drugs. “I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping,” he said.
While Coote acknowledged the mistakes he had made, he denied accusations that he had been involved in match-fixing. The allegations suggested that he had made an agreement with a friend to award a yellow card to a player during a match, but Coote firmly denied these claims. “There was no agreement prior to the game. I went and did my job. The player committed a yellow card tackle,” he stated. He also clarified that he had received no personal gain from the incident. Coote expressed disappointment that such allegations had tarnished his reputation and the integrity of the game. “Whatever people think of me as a referee, as a human I have always gone out and done my best on the pitch,” he said.
In his interview, Coote emphasized the toll that hiding his true self had taken on him and how it influenced his behavior both on and off the field. While he acknowledged the mistakes that led to his dismissal, he also spoke candidly about the personal struggles that shaped his journey.
