Sacked Premier League referee comes out as gay and explains why he took cocaine
Sacked Premier League referee comes out as gay and explains why he took cocaine
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Disgraced Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and says he took cocaine to ‘escape’ the ‘stresses and relentlessness of the job’. Coote, 42, was sacked by referees’ body PGMOL in December after an investigation into his conduct.
![[Liverpool FC v Aston Villa FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2183679286.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
In a series of leaked videos, Coote was filmed making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp, and appearing to take drugs. Coote officiated his first Premier League game in April 2018 and went on to referee over 100 English top-flight matches.
![[West Ham United FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2184734363.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Speaking about his sacking for the first time, Coote admitted taking cocaine as an ‘escape’ to the pressures of his job. ‘It’s not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,’ an emotional Coote told The Sun. ‘I’ve had long periods where I’ve not used it — but it was one of the escape routes I had.
![[FILE PHOTO: Juergen Klopp remonstrates with fourth official David Coote during Liverpool's Premier League match against Everton]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_229566949_1bee10.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route. ‘I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me. ‘I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping.’.
‘Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect. ‘David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.
