Referee who abused Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool in drug-fuelled rant apologises, comes out as gay

Referee David Coote gestures during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Aston Villa FC at Anfield on November 09, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

By Reuters

28 Jan 2025

Premier League referee David Coote has admitted to recreational drug use during his rant against Liverpool Football Club.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has apologised for the actions that led to his sacking last month by English soccer’s referees’ body, saying the pressure of the job and fear of abuse due to his sexuality triggered his behaviour.

Coote was fired after being suspended in November following a video circulating on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and their ex-manager Jürgen Klopp.

The 42-year-old Coote, who officiated more than 100 top-flight games, said fear of coming out as gay led him to turn to drugs, adding that he “was not sober” at the time of the video.

“I want to apologise to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions... you can tell by the video I wasn’t sober,” Coote told The Sun in an interview released on Monday.

“I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.

“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.”

referee Coote Klopp Jürgen Klopp at his presentation as Red Bull’s head of global soccer in Salzburg, Austria, on 17 January 2025. (Photo: Marcel Engelbrecht – firo sportphoto / Getty Images)

Uefa investigation

Coote was suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd on 11 November and the controversy escalated a few days later when The Sun released a video allegedly showing him snorting white powder while officiating at Euro 2024, prompting a new Uefa investigation.

Coote, who also officiated at last year’s Olympics, said he had been in an “incredibly dark place” since the video was published while struggling with pressure due to his workload.

“In 2023 I lost my mum very suddenly. At the same time my uncle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

“After Covid and the introduction of VAR, six officials were suddenly needed for each game,” he said.

Referee David Coote during a Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield on 9 November 2024. (Photo: James Gill – Danehouse / Getty Images)

“I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me. I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position, escaping.

“I received nothing for it. I’m really disappointed that anything like this has come out because it tarnishes the integrity of the game.”

The former referee said he was over his drug habit after having therapy but still felt shame over his actions.

“I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now. I’ve taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from a physical and a mental wellbeing,” he said.

“To other people who are in my situation I’d say seek help and talk to somebody, because if you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way.” Reuters/DM

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