Former Official Faces Category A Charge Following Police Investigation
Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty after he was charged with making an indecent video of a child, appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning for his first hearing.
The 43-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and enter his plea during the hearing, which lasted 18 minutes. Coote, who wore a navy suit to court, was granted conditional bail by magistrates.
The former official from Collingham, near Newark in Nottinghamshire, is accused of making an indecent video of a child on January 2, 2020. The charge came following a probe by Nottinghamshire Police, with the allegation relating to a video file recovered by officers in February 2025.
Coote was charged on August 12 and is set to appear at Nottingham Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 9.
Most Serious Category
The charge relates to a Category A offence, which is the most serious classification under UK law for indecent images of children. Category A offences involve images or videos that depict penetrative sexual activity.
The charge of “making” an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos, rather than the creation of original material.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the allegation relates specifically to a video recovered during their investigation earlier this year, though no further details about the nature of the material have been released.
Klopp Video Scandal
Coote’s career as an elite referee came to an abrupt end in December 2024 when he was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following the emergence of a video showing him making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
In the leaked footage, which was recorded in 2020, the referee was filmed going on an X-rated rant about the German coach. “I do my best not to speak to him. James Milner is all right, I get on with him,” Coote said in the video.
“You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German c***, f**k me,” he added, using an expletive to describe Klopp and making reference to his nationality.
When asked about Liverpool in the same video, Coote described the club as “s***” and called Klopp an “absolute c***.”
Claims He Cannot Recall
Whilst Coote has not denied the authenticity of the video, he has claimed he “does not recall” making the recording. The footage is understood to have been filmed shortly after a match between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which ended 1-1 at Anfield.
The pair had clashed during that match, played behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Klopp accusing Coote of lying about an incident during the game.
The comments made by the referee drew widespread criticism from many who questioned his impartiality and suitability to referee in England’s top flight. The video raised serious questions about whether Coote had been able to officiate Liverpool matches fairly.
Swift Dismissal
Following a thorough investigation into Coote’s conduct, PGMOL terminated his employment with immediate effect in December 2024. The referees’ governing body found his actions were in “serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract.”
A statement from PGMOL read: “Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.
“David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.
“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.”
Additional Sanctions
The 43-year-old has also been banned by UEFA until June 30, 2026, after a separate video emerged appearing to show him snorting a white powder through a bank note whilst in Germany for Euro 2024, where he was working as an assistant VAR.
In August 2025, the Football Association issued Coote with an eight-week suspension over the Klopp footage, charging him with acting in an improper manner and using abusive and insulting words. The FA determined it constituted an “aggravated breach” as it included reference to Klopp’s nationality.
The FA investigated but did not bring charges over separate allegations of gambling misconduct, which Coote had strenuously denied.
Personal Struggles
In January 2025, Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun newspaper, revealing that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to his rant about Klopp and apparent drug use.
“I want to apologise to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions. You can tell by the video I wasn’t sober,” Coote said at the time.
The former referee explained he had turned to drugs due to fear of abuse over his sexuality, adding that he had been in an “incredibly dark place” following his mother’s sudden death in 2023 and the intense pressure of his workload.
Premier League Career
Coote made his Premier League debut as a referee in April 2018 and went on to officiate more than 100 top-flight matches before his dismissal. He was considered a rising official and had been selected to referee high-profile matches including the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle.
His last match as a Premier League referee was Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on November 9, 2024, just two days before the video of his comments about Klopp emerged on social media.
Earlier this year, Coote was spotted working as a delivery driver for courier company Evri, captured on doorbell camera footage, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the former elite official.
Coote will now prepare for his return to Nottingham Crown Court on October 9, where he is expected to enter a formal plea ahead of a potential trial on the indecent images charge.
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