Former Premier League official David Coote is due to be sentenced this week, marking a grim conclusion to a dramatic and rapid professional downfall. The ex-referee pleaded guilty in October 2025 to making a Category A indecent image of a child, the most severe classification under UK law.
A Swift and Public Professional Collapse
The sequence of events that led to Coote's dismissal and criminal conviction unfolded with startling speed. In November 2024, his career first began to unravel when he was suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). This action followed the emergence of a video showing him using offensive language about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
Almost immediately, a second controversy erupted. UEFA suspended Coote from all European duties after another video allegedly showed him using a white powder while working at Euro 2024. By December 2024, the PGMOL had terminated his contract permanently, stating his actions were a serious breach of his employment terms.
Personal Disclosures and Further Sanctions
In a public attempt to explain his behaviour, Coote gave an interview in January 2025 where he came out as gay. He discussed the significant mental health struggles he faced while concealing his sexuality during his refereeing career, suggesting these pressures contributed to his poor decision-making.
Professional sporting bodies moved decisively. UEFA imposed a formal ban until 30 June 2026 for bringing the sport into disrepute. The Football Association also handed him an eight-week suspension for his derogatory comments. However, these sanctions were soon overshadowed by a far more serious development.
Criminal Investigation and Guilty Plea
In August 2025, Coote was charged by police after an analysis of devices seized earlier in the year. The charge was making an indecent image of a child. He initially pleaded not guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court in September.
His position changed the following month. At Nottingham Crown Court in October 2025, David Coote pleaded guilty to making a Category A indecent image. The court heard the illicit file was discovered during a forensic examination of his electronic equipment conducted as part of the wider investigations.
His sentencing hearing, originally set for December 2025, was adjourned to 8 January 2026 due to the medical unavailability of his legal counsel. He is now expected to appear in court to receive his final sentence, closing a chapter that moved from professional misconduct to serious criminality.
