David Coote, a 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 an indecent image of a child.
A Staggering Descent from the Top
At Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Nirmal Shant KC described the 43-year-old's actions as leading to 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, 11-second video on Coote's Dell laptop during an unrelated investigation. The footage, recorded in January 2020, depicted a 15-year-old boy in school uniform undressing and performing sexual acts. This is classified as a category A indecent image, the most severe type under UK law.
A Downward Spiral Preceding the Offence
Coote's professional downfall began before this conviction. 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 FA and his eventual sacking by the PGMOL in December 2024.
Further controversy followed when another video allegedly showed him snorting a white powder through a bank note during Euro 2024, resulting in a UEFA ban lasting until mid-2026. It was during the police analysis of his devices for these separate matters that the indecent image was found.
During a police interview in February 2025, Coote initially offered a "no comment" response. However, he later pleaded guilty in October 2025 to making an indecent image of a child. His sentencing, originally set for December 2025, was delayed until 8 January 2026 due to the medical unavailability of his legal team.
Remorse and Personal Struggles Cited in Court
In sentencing, Judge Shant emphasised the gravity of the crime, stating such images "involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that follows." The court also heard mitigation from Coote's defence, which outlined personal difficulties including a relationship breakdown, mental health struggles, and cocaine use, which they argued impaired his judgement.
His barrister stated Coote was "deeply ashamed" and had shown genuine remorse to the probation service. Once a FIFA-listed official and member of the Elite Referee group, Coote had taken charge of over 100 Premier League matches and various international fixtures before his rapid and shocking descent into disgrace.
