Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child, a charge that could see him jailed for up to 10 years.
The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, where he admitted to accessing Category A material — the most serious classification, involving the creation, downloading, or possession of explicit child content.
Coote, who was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last year, was found to have accessed the video on a Dell laptop registered to PGMOL. He now faces inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register, with the duration of his registration to be determined by his final sentence.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC warned Coote that a custodial sentence remains likely:
“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter. Whether custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court. You mustn’t go away with the impression that this automatically means a non-custodial sentence—it doesn’t.”
Coote was released on conditional bail pending sentencing on December 11. His bail terms prohibit contact with anyone under 18 and bar him from residing in a home with minors. He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which restricts his online activity and prevents him from clearing his browsing history.
According to prosecutor Ben Payne, the case came to light following an FA investigation, during which two concerning conversations suggested Coote had a sexual interest in minors. A subsequent police search led to his arrest and the seizure of incriminating material.
The once-prominent referee, known for officiating top-flight and international matches, was already in controversy before this case. He had been dismissed in December 2023 after a video surfaced of him making derogatory remarks about ex-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, calling him a “German ****.”
In June, David Coote was charged by the FA for breaching rules over the offensive comments, which were deemed an “aggravated breach” due to their reference to Klopp’s nationality.
Reflecting on his downfall, David Coote expressed regret and linked his behavior to personal struggles, revealing for the first time that he had hidden his sexuality during his refereeing career.
“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 said.
“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.”
PGMOL chief Howard Webb previously stated that David Coote’s return to officiating would be “very difficult,” noting the sadness surrounding his case but acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.
As the sentencing date approaches, David Coote’s career — once marked by Premier League glory — now stands overshadowed by scandal, remorse, and an uncertain future behind bars.
