David Coote, a former Premier League referee who once officiated at the highest levels of English and international football, has been handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
A Spectacular Fall from Grace
At Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, 8 January 2026, Judge Nirmal Shant KC described the 43-year-old's conduct as representing a "spectacular fall from grace". Coote, from Nottinghamshire, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He avoided immediate custody but must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and is subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order that restricts his contact with children.
The court heard that police discovered a two-minute and 11-second video on Coote's Dell laptop during an investigation into separate matters. The footage, recorded in January 2020, showed a 15-year-old boy in school uniform undressing and performing sexual acts. This is classified as a category A indecent image, the most serious type under UK law.
Downfall Began with Controversial Videos
Coote's professional unravelling began not with this offence, but with a series of damaging video scandals. In 2024, a clip surfaced online showing him making derogatory remarks, including a nationality-based insult, about then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. This led to an eight-week suspension from the Football Association and a PGMOL investigation, culminating in his sacking in December 2024.
Later, another video emerged allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder through a bank note during Euro 2024. This resulted in a UEFA ban lasting until mid-2026.
It was during the police examination of his devices for these separate inquiries that the indecent material was found. Coote initially gave a "no comment" interview in February 2025 before pleading guilty to the charge in October of that year.
Personal Struggles and Remorse
During sentencing, the court was told of Coote's personal difficulties, including a relationship breakdown, mental health struggles, and cocaine use. His defence argued these factors had impaired his judgement at the time of the offence.
His barrister stated Coote was "deeply ashamed" of his actions and had demonstrated genuine remorse to the probation service. Judge Shant acknowledged these mitigating factors but stressed the gravity of the crime, noting that such images "involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that follows."
Coote's sentencing, originally scheduled for December 2025, was delayed to 8 January 2026 due to the medical unavailability of his legal counsel.
His rapid descent marks a shocking conclusion to a career that saw him officiate over 100 Premier League matches, become a FIFA-listed referee, and be part of the Elite Referee group, representing the pinnacle of English officiating.
