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Ex-Premier League referee David Coote admits to making indecent image of child
David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child. The former Premier League referee was charged on August 12 after an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police. Coote was sacked as a referee at the end of 2024PA Coote admitted the offence at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday. Wearing a navy suit, he spoke only to confirm his name and the guilty plea. Coote was granted conditional bail by Judge Nirmal Shant KC with sentencing to take place on December 11. The 43-year-old’s charge related to the making of Category A images of child abuse on January 2, 2020 – after officers uncovered evidence in February 2025. Category A images are the most serious, depicting the most extreme and harmful material involving sexual activity or abuse of a child. This can include but is not restricted to penetrative sexual activity, acts of sexual assault or violence, and torture or sexual sadism. The charge can also relate to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos. The distribution, taking or making of such images carries a maximum custodial sentence of ten years. It comes after Coote was sacked by the PGMOL in 2024 and handed a UEFA ban following unrelated damaging videos and messages posted online. He was then suspended and charged by the FA in June earlier this year. Coote has been at the centre of multiple scandals in the past 12 monthsGETTY Why was David Coote sacked? During his career as a referee, Coote oversaw 112 Premier League matches, along with many fixtures across the English Football League. In November 2024, a clip surfaced on social media which showed the former referee calling ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c***’ and calling him arrogant. He was dismissed by the PGMOL in December 2025, after they deemed him to be ‘in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable’. The FA launched their own investigation and charged Coote several months later. Another clip showed Coote snorting a white power – which was followed by allegations that he attempted to organise a ‘drugs party’ in messages sent during half-time of a match between Tottenham and Manchester City. Coote was also alleged to have discussed giving a yellow card before and after a Championship fixture between Leeds United and West Brom. However, the ex-official did not face any charges over gambling misconduct. Coote revealed himself to be gay in a tearful interview with The Sun in January 2025 and spoke about hiding his sexuality for many years. He recently started working for delivery company Evri as part of a bid to ‘make an honest living’ and ‘get on with his life’.
David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
The former Premier League referee was charged on August 12 after an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.
Coote admitted the offence at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.
Wearing a navy suit, he spoke only to confirm his name and the guilty plea.
Coote was granted conditional bail by Judge Nirmal Shant KC with sentencing to take place on December 11.
The 43-year-old’s charge related to the making of Category A images of child abuse on January 2, 2020 – after officers uncovered evidence in February 2025.
Category A images are the most serious, depicting the most extreme and harmful material involving sexual activity or abuse of a child.
This can include but is not restricted to penetrative sexual activity, acts of sexual assault or violence, and torture or sexual sadism.
The charge can also relate to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.
The distribution, taking or making of such images carries a maximum custodial sentence of ten years.
It comes after Coote was sacked by the PGMOL in 2024 and handed a UEFA ban following unrelated damaging videos and messages posted online.
He was then suspended and charged by the FA in June earlier this year.
Why was David Coote sacked?
During his career as a referee, Coote oversaw 112 Premier League matches, along with many fixtures across the English Football League.
In November 2024, a clip surfaced on social media which showed the former referee calling ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c***’ and calling him arrogant.
He was dismissed by the PGMOL in December 2025, after they deemed him to be ‘in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable’.
The FA launched their own investigation and charged Coote several months later.
Another clip showed Coote snorting a white power – which was followed by allegations that he attempted to organise a ‘drugs party’ in messages sent during half-time of a match between Tottenham and Manchester City.
Coote was also alleged to have discussed giving a yellow card before and after a Championship fixture between Leeds United and West Brom.
However, the ex-official did not face any charges over gambling misconduct.
Coote revealed himself to be gay in a tearful interview with The Sun in January 2025 and spoke about hiding his sexuality for many years.
He recently started working for delivery company Evri as part of a bid to ‘make an honest living’ and ‘get on with his life’.
