David Coote reveals fears of abuse as a gay referee, reflects on personal battles, and apologises for actions leading to his dismissal

Former Premier League referee David Coote, 42, has revealed he hid his sexuality throughout his officiating career, fearing the abuse he might face for being gay. Speaking to The Sun, Coote disclosed the internal battles he faced, which he says contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024.

“I’m gay and have struggled with being proud of myself for a long time,” Coote shared, admitting that the intense pressures of his work compounded his struggles. “I’ve received deeply unpleasant abuse as a referee, and adding my sexuality to that would’ve been unbearable.”

Having officiated over 100 Premier League games since his debut in 2018, Coote faced immense scrutiny. He described receiving death threats during his career, with some targeting his late mother. These threats led to the installation of an accelerated police response system at his home.

Coote’s sacking followed an investigation into a leaked video of him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp. Separate reports accused him of using cocaine during the European Championship. He has since apologised for his actions, attributing them to the dark place he was in after his mother’s sudden death in 2023 and the escalating pressures of his career.

“I don’t recognise myself in the video. I wasn’t sober, and I deeply regret what happened,” Coote admitted. He also denied allegations of discussing a planned yellow card in a 2019 Championship match.

Reflecting on his struggles, Coote shared the burden of concealing his sexuality. “I hid my emotions and my sexuality—qualities that might suit a referee but are damaging as a person,” he said, expressing regret for bottling up his feelings.

Since leaving his role, Coote has sought therapy to overcome his issues, including his past drug use. He is now advocating for greater mental health support for referees, acknowledging the intense physical and psychological demands of the job.

To those in similar circumstances, Coote’s advice is clear: “Seek help and talk to someone. Bottling it up only makes it worse.”