In a revealing interview, former Premier League referee David Coote has disclosed that he concealed his sexuality throughout his career due to fears of potential abuse, while also addressing the circumstances that led to his recent dismissal from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.
Coote, 42, who officiated more than 100 top-flight games, opened up to The Sun about his struggles with identity and the pressures of his profession. "I'm gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being 'me' over a long period of time," he stated, explaining that the "deeply unpleasant abuse" he received as a referee deterred him from being open about his sexuality.
The former official revealed he experienced a "deep sense of shame" during his teenage years, only coming out to his parents at 21 and friends at 25. He acknowledged that hiding his emotions and sexuality, while beneficial for his refereeing career, proved "a terrible quality as a human being" that influenced his subsequent behavior.
Coote's career came to an abrupt end following a series of controversial incidents. He was initially suspended on November 11 after a video surfaced showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The situation worsened when The Sun published photos allegedly showing him using drugs during last year's European Championship, leading to investigations by both the FA and UEFA.
The former referee attributed his actions partly to personal struggles, including his mother's sudden death in 2023 and his uncle's motor neurone disease diagnosis. He also cited the intense workload of officiating over 90 games worldwide, followed by the European Championship and Olympics, as contributing factors to his stress.
In a statement issued Monday, Coote expressed remorse for his actions: "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me." He emphasized that the incidents occurred during "very low times" in his life and don't reflect his current self.
The revelation comes amid ongoing concerns about abuse in football, as police currently investigate threats directed at referee Michael Oliver following Arsenal's recent game against Wolves. Coote himself disclosed receiving death threats during his career, some targeting his late mother, necessitating the installation of an accelerated response tag at his home for emergency police contact.
After receiving therapy, Coote claims to have overcome his drug issues and now advocates for others in similar situations to seek help. "To other people who are in my situation, I'd say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way," he concluded.
