Sacked referee David Coote reveals struggles with sexuality led to ‘really poor choices’
Sacked referee David Coote reveals struggles with sexuality led to ‘really poor choices’
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Ex-Premier League referee issues apology after he was sacked over footage of X-rated rant directed at former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Former Premier League referee David Coote has disclosed that he is gay and revealed a lifelong struggle with his sexuality led to “really poor choices” following his high-profile dismissal last year.
![[Former Premier League referee David Coote has disclosed that he is gay and revealed a lifelong struggle with his sexuality led to ‘really poor choices’ after he was dismissed from his post last year]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/28/08/711140aa-1070-4113-be5b-232a3fe77863.jpg)
The 42-year-old has issued an apology after he was sacked when footage of an X-rated rant directed at ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp went viral, along with images of him taking cocaine, and reports he talked about booking a Leeds United player before a game.
![[Coote was initially suspended last October after footage emerged of him mocking ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in a video that was widely shared on social media]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/30/17/RED_BULL-KLOPP_69707.jpg)
He has now admitted he “deeply regrets his remarks” and insisted he was not involved with spot-fixing. He also said he has stopped taking cocaine, a drug he described feeling “shame” at having to use to deal with the stresses of his job, including receiving death threats, as well as having to hide his sexuality for fear of facing abuse.
![[The video appears to show Premier League referee David Coote being asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official and describing them as ‘s***’]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/11/15/1.jpg)
Speaking to The Sun on Monday, the newspaper that initially published both the series of leaked videos and images of him, Coote said: “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 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. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”. Coote was initially suspended last October after the first video emerged, before his contract was terminated by the referee’s body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December following its investigation into the footage.
