David Coote, the former Premier League referee who once officiated at the pinnacle of English football, has been handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to making a category A indecent image of a child.
A Staggering Descent from the Top
At Nottingham Crown Court on 8 January 2026, Judge Nirmal Shant KC described the 43-year-old's conduct as representing a "spectacular fall from grace." The sentence of nine months imprisonment was suspended for two years, sparing Coote immediate custody.
In addition to the suspended term, the judge from Nottinghamshire imposed a series of significant orders. Coote must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and is now subject to a stringent 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which severely restricts his contact with children.
The Path to Conviction
Coote's dramatic decline began not with this criminal offence, but with a series of professional controversies. In 2024, a video 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 his eventual sacking by the PGMOL in December 2024.
Subsequently, another video allegedly depicting Coote snorting a white powder through a bank note during Euro 2024 emerged, resulting in a UEFA ban lasting until mid-2026.
It was during police analysis of his devices for these separate matters that the most serious evidence was uncovered. On his Dell laptop, officers found a two-minute and 11-second video, recorded in January 2020. Prosecutors stated the footage showed a 15-year-old boy in school uniform undressing and performing sexual acts, material classified as the most severe category A indecent image.
Coote initially gave a "no comment" interview in February 2025 but pleaded guilty to the charge of making an indecent image of a child in October of that year.
Mitigation and Final Downfall
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard of mitigating factors in Coote's personal life. His defence barrister outlined that he had suffered a relationship breakdown, battled mental health difficulties, and used cocaine, which was said to have impaired his judgement at the time of the offence. Coote was described as "deeply ashamed" and had shown remorse to the probation service.
Judge Shant acknowledged these struggles but emphasised the gravity of the crime, stating that such images "involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that follows."
The sentencing, originally scheduled for December 2025, was delayed to 8 January 2026 due to the medical unavailability of his legal team. The final ruling marks a devastating endpoint for a career that once saw Coote officiate over 100 Premier League matches, represent FIFA on the international list, and operate within the Elite Referee group, the highest tier of officiating in England.
