Disgraced official faces Category A charge over 2020 incident as he appears in court this week following December sacking for Klopp comments
Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent video of a child and is due to appear before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in a shocking development that has further tarnished the reputation of the disgraced official.
The 43-year-old from Collingham in the Newark area faces prosecution for allegedly creating an indecent video of a child on 2 January 2020, with the material classified as Category A – the most serious level under UK law. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed Coote was charged on 12 August and is currently on conditional bail ahead of his first court hearing on 11 September.
The charge relates to a video file recovered by Nottinghamshire Police officers in February 2025, with the force confirming the allegation involves “making” an indecent image, which under UK law includes downloading, sharing, or saving abuse photos or videos. Category A material represents the most severe classification and typically involves the most serious forms of child abuse imagery.
Fall From Grace
The criminal charges represent a dramatic new low for Coote, who was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024 following a series of scandals that ended his Premier League officiating career. His dismissal came after a leaked video showed him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jürgen Klopp, calling the German a “c***” and describing the Reds as “s***” in footage filmed in 2020.
The video, which circulated widely on social media in November 2024, showed Coote in an expletive-laden rant recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the footage, he said: “Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying and then just had a right fucking pop at me. I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant.”
He added: “My God, German c***, fuck me. Just to be clear, that last video can’t go anywhere, seriously.” His companion in the video responded: “He’s a Premier League referee, let’s not ruin a bloke’s career.
Multiple Sanctions
Following an investigation, PGMOL terminated Coote’s employment on 9 December 2024, stating his actions were “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.” The organisation confirmed Coote had the right to appeal the decision whilst emphasising they remained committed to his welfare.
The Football Association separately charged Coote in June 2025 for his comments about Klopp, deeming them an “aggravated breach” of Rule E3.2 due to the reference to the German’s nationality. Coote accepted the charge, admitting his comments were “crass and inappropriate” and expressing what he described as “deep remorse.”
As a result, the FA imposed an eight-week suspension from all football activity, though this had limited impact given his earlier dismissal from officiating duties. The governing body cleared him of separate gambling misconduct allegations following an investigation into claims he had discussed giving a yellow card before a Championship match between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in October 2019.
European Ban
UEFA imposed its own sanctions, banning Coote from officiating in European competitions until 30 June 2026. This followed the emergence of a second video in November 2024 allegedly showing him snorting a white powder through a banknote whilst on duty at Euro 2024, where he had served as an assistant VAR.
The European governing body stated that Coote had brought “the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute” through his actions. The ban effectively ended any possibility of him returning to elite-level officiating in the foreseeable future.
Personal Struggles
In a revealing interview with The Sun in January 2025, Coote came out as gay and attributed his behaviour partly to struggles with his sexuality and the pressure of officiating at the highest level. The 42-year-old said a fear of abuse due to his sexuality had led him to turn to drugs, admitting he “was not sober” when the Klopp video was filmed.
“I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult,” Coote explained. “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 revealed he had been in an “incredibly dark place” following the sudden death of his mother in 2023 and his uncle’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease. Coote said the increased workload following the introduction of VAR, which required six officials for each match, had left him struggling to cope.
Career Background
Coote began refereeing at sixteen and worked his way through the ranks from the Notts Alliance League to the Premier League. He first officiated a top-flight match in April 2018 and went on to take charge of more than 100 Premier League games during his career, including high-profile fixtures such as the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle.
Born in Nottingham on 11 July 1982, Coote was registered as a Notts County fan with PGMOL. His final Premier League match was Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on 9 November 2024, just two days before the first scandal broke.
January Apology
Speaking to The Sun in January 2025, Coote had apologised for his actions, stating: “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.”
“I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love. I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think.”
A spokesperson for Coote declined to comment when contacted about the criminal charges on Wednesday. The former referee’s court appearance on Thursday will mark the latest chapter in what has been a spectacular fall from grace for someone who once officiated at the highest level of English and European football.
The case has sent shockwaves through the football community, with many expressing disbelief that a former Premier League official could face such serious criminal charges. If convicted, Coote could face a significant prison sentence given the severity of Category A offences under UK law.
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