Former Premier League official, David Coote, has publicly identified as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
In a dialogue with the UK Sun, Coote further confessed to utilizing cocaine as a mechanism for avoidance.
The 42-year-old official was dismissed from his position the previous year after being found to have “seriously breached” his contractual obligations with the PGMOL.
This follows the release of a video clip, in which Coote could be seen calling Liverpool “s***” and branding their manager at the time, Jurgen Klopp, a “German c***”.
Another video surfaced depicting Coote purportedly inhaling a white powder subsequent to his duties as a VAR official during Euro 2024.
Addressing the public for the first time since these events, David Coote has responded to certain controversies that culminated in the cessation of his prominent career.
He said: “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.
“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 dealing with hiding that.
“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. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”
After the videos leaked on social media, David Coote was immediately suspended and his sacking was confirmed last month.
Coote oped not to appeal his sacking, and has not commented on the situation until now.
