I’m gay but hid my sexuality in macho football world…it led to behaviour I deeply regret, says shamed ex-ref David Coote
I’m gay but hid my sexuality in macho football world…it led to behaviour I deeply regret, says shamed ex-ref David Coote
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SACKED referee David Coote has revealed he turned to cocaine over fear of coming out in the “macho world” of the Premier League. Tearful Coote said he took coke to “escape” after being forced to hide being gay. Coote also admitted he was “not sober” in his rant at ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and got abuse and death threats as a ref.
![[A man wiping away tears.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/referee-david-coote-speaks-stephen-967019719_92a142.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The sacked 42-year-old told how living a lie led him down paths that eventually torpedoed his career. Coote told The Sun: “I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. “I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn’t come out to my friends until I was 25.
![[Close-up of a person appearing to snort cocaine using a rolled-up dollar bill.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/david-coote-alleged-cocaine-story-948895783_454bc9.jpg?strip=all&w=441)
“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay, and that I’ve had real struggles dealing with hiding that. “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.
![[Referee David Coote writing on a yellow card.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/31-03-2024-referee-david-956032650_439ad7.jpg?strip=all&w=755)
“And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”. He says he has been in an “incredibly dark place” since news emerged of his drug-taking at Euro 2024. Without the support of family and colleagues, he added, “I’m not sure I’d be here today”.
![[Close-up of a man looking surprised.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/david-coote-948396687.jpg?strip=all&w=364)
Giving his first interview since the scandal broke, he said he hoped to help break down the “macho world” of Premier League football. He added: “I’ve had issues around my self-esteem — and that relates to my sexuality. I’m gay and I’ve struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time.
![[Referee David Coote speaking.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/referee-david-coote-speaks-stephen-967018996.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
