Former Premier League referee David Coote has been banned for eight weeks and ordered to attend a face-to-face education programme following abusive comments he made about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a video that surfaced on social media last November.
The Football Association confirmed today that an independent Regulatory Commission imposed the sanctions after Coote, 42, admitted to breaching FA Rule E3.1 for acting in an improper manner and using abusive and insulting language. The misconduct was classified as an “aggravated breach” because it included a reference to Klopp’s German nationality.
In the video, recorded around July 2020 at Coote’s home in the presence of a cricket friend, the referee describes Klopp as a “German c***” and calls him “f****** arrogant. The footage remained private until it was widely circulated on social media in November 2024, triggering a series of investigations and ultimately ending Coote’s career at the top level of English football.
FA Report Reveals Deep Remorse
The FA’s regulatory commission report revealed that Coote expressed “deep remorse” during the investigation and admitted his remarks were “crass” and “inappropriate. The disgraced official insisted the comments did not reflect his true feelings towards Klopp, for whom he claims to have “deep professional respect”.
I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me,” Coote said in a statement to Sky News in January. I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love.
The report confirmed Coote has apologised personally to Klopp, as well as to the FA, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and the wider football community.
Gambling Allegations Cleared
In a significant development, the FA cleared Coote of separate gambling misconduct allegations that had threatened to compound his professional disgrace. The Sun newspaper had reported in November that Coote allegedly discussed booking Leeds United’s Ezgjan Alioski before a match against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019, then messaged a friend saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.
Coote had strenuously denied these allegations, calling them “false and defamatory” and insisting that personal issues had never affected his decision-making on the pitch. The FA’s investigation found no evidence to support the gambling claims, providing some relief to the embattled former official.
An FA spokesperson confirmed: “David Coote has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to comments that he made about Jurgen Klopp. However, we found no evidence of gambling misconduct.”
Career in Tatters After PGMOL Sacking
The eight-week ban comes after PGMOL terminated Coote’s employment in December 2024, declaring his position “untenable” following a thorough investigation. The referees’ body concluded he was in “serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract”, effectively ending his Premier League career after 112 top-flight matches.
Coote’s fall from grace accelerated when UEFA banned him until 30 June 2026 following another damaging video that emerged showing him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024. The European governing body cited violations of “basic rules of decent conduct” and bringing football “into disrepute.
The Nottinghamshire-born official, who refereed the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle, had been part of the Premier League’s elite group since 2018 and was considered one of the most experienced referees in English football.
From Premier League to Parcel Delivery
In a remarkable turn of events, Coote has been spotted working as a delivery driver for courier company Evri in the Newark area where he resides. Ring doorbell footage captured the former referee delivering a vehicle part to a property, with the 42-year-old acknowledging his new role represents “a temporary measure rather than a permanent career change.
I’m just trying to make an honest living,” Coote told The Sun. “The job is keeping me busy and occupied. I want to get on with my life and regain a sense of responsibility and purpose.”
Sources close to Coote describe him as “a great lad who lost his career through stupidity, as he fully acknowledges”, with one friend suggesting “there might be a return for him to the game at some point, and football definitely needs experts like him.
Personal Struggles and Coming Out
In January 2025, Coote publicly came out as gay in an emotional interview, revealing that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to his errant behaviour and the rant about Klopp. The former referee admitted he had concealed his identity throughout his career due to fears of abuse and backlash.
“I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn’t come out to my friends until I was 25,” Coote disclosed. “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.”
He added that hiding emotions as a young referee whilst concealing his sexuality was “a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being”, leading to what he described as “a whole course of behaviours.
Industry Reaction and Future Implications
The case has sent shockwaves through the refereeing community, with PGMOL chief Howard Webb confirming on Sky Sports‘ Match Officials Mic’d Up programme that the organisation was taking the incident “very seriously. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher described the situation as unprecedented, noting Coote’s status as “one of the most experienced and highly-thought-of referees in this country.
Despite the career-ending consequences, Coote has found purpose in charitable work, recently completing the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease research in honour of his uncle Mick, who suffers from the condition.
My focus now is on continuing to prioritise my mental health and wellbeing,” Coote stated. I hope that my experiences, both on and off the field, can be utilised in football at some point in the future.
The FA’s eight-week suspension, whilst largely symbolic given Coote’s sacking and UEFA ban, underscores the seriousness with which football authorities view discriminatory language, particularly when it references nationality. The mandatory education programme requirement signals the FA’s commitment to rehabilitation alongside punishment.
As one chapter closes on a promising refereeing career derailed by personal demons and professional misconduct, David Coote’s journey from Premier League whistleblower to Evri delivery driver serves as a cautionary tale about accountability in elite sport and the importance of maintaining professional standards both on and off the pitch.
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