{{Short description|English football referee (born 1982)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox football official | name = David Coote | image = West Ham United v Arsenal F.C., 16 April 2023 (n) (cropped).jpg | caption = Coote in 2023 | full_name = David Harry Coote | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|7|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Nottingham]], England | years1 = ?–2010 | league1 = [[Football Conference]] | role1 = [[Referee (association football)|Referee]] | years2 = 2010–2018 | league2 = [[English Football League]] | role2 = Referee | years3 = 2018–2024 | league3 = [[Premier League]] | role3 = Referee | confederation1 = [[FIFA International Referees List|FIFA listed]] | internationalrole1 = Referee | internationalyears1 = 2020–2022 }}
'''David Harry Coote''' (born 11 July 1982) is an English former [[Association football|football]] referee.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=David Coote Referee Profile |url=https://www.premierleague.com/referees/17006/David-Coote/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226171158/https://www.premierleague.com/referees/17006/David-Coote/overview |archive-date=26 February 2023 |access-date=13 February 2020 |website=Premier League}}</ref> His county FA was the [[Nottinghamshire Football Association]].<ref name=":0" /> He belonged to the [[Select Group]] of Referees in England and officiated primarily in the [[Premier League]] before his dismissal in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premier League referee David Coote sacked after investigation into his conduct |url=https://news.sky.com/story/premier-league-referee-david-coote-sacked-after-investigation-into-his-conduct-13270350 |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=Sky News}}</ref> On 14 October 2025, he pleaded guilty to the charge of making [[indecent images of children]].<ref name=":1" />
==Early life== David Harry Coote<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_referee.php?id=3961 |title=International football referee David Coote |website=EU football.info |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref> was born on 11 July 1982<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/referees/david-coote/91508/ |title=D. Coote: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=16 November 2024 |archive-date=16 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116170720/https://uk.soccerway.com/referees/david-coote/91508/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> in [[Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/david-cootes-liverpool-record-analysed-as-he-is-placed-under-investigation-for-shocking-social-media-video-leak |title=David Coote's Liverpool record analysed as he is placed under investigation for shocking social-media video leak |first=Matthew |last=Holt |website=FourFourTwo |publisher=Future Publishing |date=12 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref>
==Career== Coote started refereeing as a sixteen-year-old. He refereed in the [[Nottinghamshire Senior League|Notts Alliance League]], the [[Northern Counties East Football League]], the [[Northern Premier League]] and the [[Conference North]] before being promoted to the [[Football League]] list of referees as an assistant referee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Kieran |date=11 November 2024 |title=Who is David Coote? Premier League referee suspended after apparent tirade against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/david-coote-referee-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-b2645088.html |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Elias |date=11 November 2024 |title=Who is David Coote, the referee under investigation for Liverpool video outburst? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5915433/2024/11/11/david-coote-referee-liverpool-profile/ |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=The Athletic}}</ref> His first game in this role came in a [[Football League Two|League Two]] game between [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] and [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]]. He was promoted to the list of Football League referees in 2010.<ref name="flinterview">{{cite web | url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/interviews/20120814/men-in-black-david-coote_2293411_2895840 | title=Men in Black — David Coote | publisher=www.football-league.co.uk | access-date=26 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529000343/http://www.football-league.co.uk/interviews/20120814/men-in-black-david-coote_2293411_2895840 | archive-date=29 May 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 2014, Coote was the referee for the [[2014 Football League One play-off final|2014 League One play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] between [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] and [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]].<ref>{{cite web |date=25 May 2014 |title=Leyton Orient 2–2 Rotherham United |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27459498 |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Coote officiated his first [[Premier League]] game between [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] on 28 April 2018, a game which ended as a 1–0 victory to West Brom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Matt |date=28 April 2018 |title=Nottinghamshire referee David Coote to take charge of his first Premier League game |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/nottinghamshire-referee-david-coote-take-1510319 |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=Nottinghamshire Live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Louise |date=28 April 2018 |title=West Brom give themselves hope with Matt Phillips winner against Newcastle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/28/newcastle-united-west-bromwich-albion-premier-league-matcch-report |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Ahead of the [[2018–19 in English football|2018–19]] season, Coote was promoted to Select Group 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 May 2018 |title=Hooper and Coote to feature in PL next season |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/694498 |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=Premier League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Matt |date=29 May 2018 |title=Nottinghamshire referee David Coote promoted to top level of Premier League officials |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottinghamshire-referee-david-coote-promoted-1619920 |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=Nottinghamshire Live}}</ref>
Coote was appointed to officiate the [[2023 EFL Cup final]] between [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on 14 February 2023, which Manchester United went on to win 2–0.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/february/carabao-cup-final-2023-referee-appointments/ | title=Carabao Cup Final 2023 referee appointments | publisher=EFL | date=14 February 2023 | access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref>
=== Video incident and suspension === On 11 November 2024, Coote was suspended by [[PGMOL]] after video footage emerged in which he made derogatory comments about [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and described [[Jürgen Klopp]] as "arrogant" and a "[[cunt]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2024 |title=David Coote: Premier League referee suspended amid video showing apparent criticism of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13252757/david-coote-premier-league-referee-suspended-amid-video-showing-apparent-criticism-of-liverpool-and-jurgen-klopp |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Buckingham |first1=Philip |last2=Pearce |first2=James |date=11 November 2024 |title=David Coote: PGMOL suspend referee after alleged comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5914912/2024/11/11/david-coote-video-liverpool-jurgen-klopp/ |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref name="Guardian Suspended">{{Cite news |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=11 November 2024 |title=Referee David Coote suspended over apparent video of foul-mouthed Klopp rant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/11/referee-david-coote-video-jurgen-klopp-liverpool-pgmol-premier-league |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', the "video appears to date from the 2020–21 season".<ref name="Guardian Suspended" /> During that season, Coote was the [[video assistant referee]] for the [[Merseyside derby]] at [[Goodison Park]] on 17 October, a game which saw Everton goalkeeper [[Jordan Pickford]] go unpunished for what [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] called "a horror tackle" on Liverpool defender [[Virgil van Dijk]], which resulted in a season-ending injury.<ref name="Guardian Suspended" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan Pickford's unpunished horror tackle on Virgil van Dijk |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6XQJSG-IWLU&pp=ygUqUGlja2ZvcmQgdW5wdW5zaW5lZCBob29ycm8gdGFja2xlIHZhbiBkaWpr |access-date=11 November 2024 |agency=TNT Sports}}</ref> Having watched the footage of the tackle, Coote did not call for any action on Pickford, instead focusing on a marginal offside in the buildup to the collision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan Pickford avoids disciplinary action for Virgil van Dijk challenge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/19/jordan-pickford-avoids-disciplinary-action-for-virgil-van-dijk-challenge |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
Coote initially claimed that the video footage of his comments was not real;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4gmvny9pgpt?post=asset%3Aafbe41fd-9052-4d81-989a-fa277780e4b3#post|title=Coote 'denies inappropriate conduct'|website=BBC|date=11 November 2024|accessdate=11 November 2024}}</ref> however, he later admitted that it was genuine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Richie |date=11 November 2024 |title=Suspended referee David Coote reportedly admits video of foul-mouthed tirade about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is real as PGMOL investigate footage |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/suspended-referee-david-coote-reportedly-admits-videofoul-mouthed-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-tirade-real-pgmol-investigate-footage/bltd0b9c67c861fb767 |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=[[Goal.com]]}}</ref> On 13 November, another video emerged allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder, believed to be [[cocaine]], during [[UEFA Euro 2024|Euro 2024]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2024 |title=PGMOL aware of video allegedly showing David Coote snorting white powder |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/david-coote-sun-pgmol-germany-jurgen-klopp-b2646709.html |access-date=13 November 2024 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2024 |title=David Coote: PGMOL aware of new video appearing to show suspended Premier League referee |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13253817/david-coote-pgmol-aware-of-new-video-appearing-to-show-suspended-premier-league-referee |access-date=13 November 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref> leading to Coote being suspended by [[UEFA]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |date=13 November 2024 |title=Referee David Coote filmed snorting white powder at Euro 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/david-coote-referee-alleged-snorting-white-powder-video-tpk26tsjb |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 November 2024 |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
The Football Association was also investigating Coote for possible [[match fixing]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.besoccer.com/new/premier-league-referee-david-coote-investigated-for-betting-scandal-1339293|title=Premier League referee David Coote investigated for betting scandal|date=27 November 2024|website=besoccer.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127230851/https://www.besoccer.com/new/premier-league-referee-david-coote-investigated-for-betting-scandal-1339293|archive-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> Allegedly, Coote had prearranged to hand out a yellow card during the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] game between [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Brom]] in October 2019, in order to benefit a friend through betting. Coote denied any wrongdoing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/27/david-coote-fa-investigating-claims-referee-discussed-giving-yellow-card|date=27 November 2024|title=David Coote: FA investigating claims referee discussed giving yellow card|website=theguardian.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127225856/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/27/david-coote-fa-investigating-claims-referee-discussed-giving-yellow-card|archive-date=27 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cg7gx14ynlvo|title=FA investigates referee Coote over booking claims|date=27 November 2024|website=bbc.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127230547/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cg7gx14ynlvo|archive-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> On 9 December, the investigation concluded and Coote was sacked with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite web | last=Jackson | first=Bobbie | title=David Coote: Premier League official sacked with immediate effect | website=BBC Sport | date=9 December 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c983y2ylev5o | access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref> In February 2025, Coote was banned by UEFA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce988kxrkpvo|title=David Coote banned by Uefa after video on duty at Euro 2024|date=28 February 2025|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Personal life== Coote is the son of [[David Coote (cricketer)|David Coote]], who played cricket for [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club]].<ref name=flinterview /> In January 2025, Coote came out as [[gay]], saying he hid his sexuality during his career due to fear of abuse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2p304d24do|title=David Coote: Former referee hid sexuality for fear of abuse|date=27 January 2025|website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=David Coote: Former Premier League referee apologises for actions which led to sacking by PGMOL and comes out as gay | website=Sky Sports | date=27 January 2025 | url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13297951/david-coote-former-premier-league-referee-apologises-for-actions-which-led-to-sacking-by-pgmol-and-comes-out-as-gay }}</ref>
=== Legal issues === In September 2025, Coote was charged by [[Nottinghamshire Police]] with making an indecent image of a child.<ref>{{cite web | last=Media | first=PA | title=Former Premier League referee David Coote charged with making indecent image of child | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=10 September 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/10/former-premier-league-referee-david-coote-charged-with-making-indecent-image-of-child | access-date=10 September 2025}}</ref> On 14 October 2025, he pleaded guilty to the charge.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Matt |last2=Oakley |first2=Tom |date=14 October 2025 |title=Ex-referee David Coote admits child image offence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20negxx11o |website=BBC News}}</ref> In January 2026, Coote was sentenced to a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to the possession of child abuse material.<ref>{{Cite web|title=L'ancien arbitre de Premier League David Coote condamné pour possession d'images pédopornographiques|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/L-ancien-arbitre-de-premier-league-david-coote-condamne-pour-possession-d-images-pedopornographiques/1632047|website=L'Équipe|access-date=2026-01-30|language=fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Soccerbase referee|1050}} * {{WorldFootball.net referee|david-coote}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coote, David}} [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Nottingham]] [[Category:English football referees]] [[Category:National League (English football) referees]] [[Category:English Football League referees]] [[Category:Premier League referees]] [[Category:English gay sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people]] [[Category:English people convicted of child pornography offences]] [[Category:Football referees at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]