Ex-Premier League Ref David Coote Hit with Shocking Child Abuse Charge
Category A Child Abuse Charge Rocks Former Top Referee
David Coote, disgraced former Premier League referee, faces a devastating Category A charge linked to a 2020 incident. The 43-year-old, axed last December after explosive rants against Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court this Thursday.
Nottinghamshire Police have charged Coote with “making” an indecent video of a child, dated January 2, 2020. Category A is the harshest level of offence under UK law, reserved for the most serious child abuse imagery.
The disturbing video was uncovered in February 2025. Coote has been on conditional bail since his charge on August 12, awaiting his first courtroom showdown on September 11.
From Premier League Whistle to Public Scandal and Suspension
Coote’s spectacular fall from grace shocked the football world. He was fired by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024 after a leaked 2020 video revealed him hurling vile abuse at Liverpool and Klopp amid the pandemic lockdown. He called Klopp a “c***” and branded the Reds “s***” in the rant.
“My God, German c***, fuck me… I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant,” Coote raged.
PGMOL called his actions a “serious breach of employment” and sacked him immediately. Coote was allowed to appeal the dismissal.
Football Authorities Clamp Down Hard
The Football Association handed Coote an eight-week ban for aggravated misconduct, citing his offensive comments targeting Klopp’s nationality. Coote admitted the remarks were “crass and inappropriate” and showed “deep remorse.”
UEFA also banned him from European matches until June 2026 after a scandalous video surfaced of Coote allegedly snorting a white powder during Euro 2024 while serving as assistant VAR.
UEFA slammed him for bringing “the sport of football… into disrepute,” effectively ending his elite refereeing career.
Personal Battles Behind the Scandal
In a rare January 2025 interview, Coote revealed his struggles with sexuality and mental health. He admitted turning to drug use as a coping mechanism while concealing his homosexuality in football’s tough environment.
“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,” he said.
The loss of his mother in 2023 and his uncle’s battle with motor neurone disease piled on the pressure. VAR’s introduction brought added stress, with more officials needed per game.
Faded Glory and an Uncertain Future
Coote’s refereeing career started at 16 and saw him oversee over 100 Premier League matches, including the 2023 Carabao Cup final. A proud Notts County fan, he took charge of his final Premier League game just days before his scandal exploded.
In January 2025, Coote apologised for his actions, describing the episode as “one of the most difficult periods of my life” and urging fans to see it as personal struggle, not his true self.
His spokesperson has declined to comment on the fresh child abuse charges. With Category A offences carrying hefty prison terms, Coote now faces a bleak and uncertain future as the football world watches closely.
