David Coote: Sacked Premier League Referee Pleads Not Guilty to Making Indecent Video of Child

Coote’s employment with PGMOL was terminated last year.

David Coote was dismissed from his job by PGMOL in December 2024. | IMAGO/PA Images

David Coote, the former Premier League referee who was sacked in December 2024 for making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their ex-manager Jürgen Klopp, has pleaded not guilty to making an indecent video of a child.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the 43-year-old has been charged with a Category A offence relating to a video file recovered in February of this year. The charge Coote faces refers to a range of activities, such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.

Coote, who was charged on Aug. 12, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, Sept. 11 to enter a not guilty plea. He remains released from custody on conditional bail until the case is heard on Oct. 9.

His Premier League officiating career was ended by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after comments made about Liverpool and Klopp were found to be a “serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract.” Coote initially denied the legitimacy of the video before admitting it was genuine.

Coote subsequently admitted to drug abuse in a lengthy interview with The Sun, owing to his struggles with hiding his sexuality, and said that he “didn’t recognise” himself in the video where he called Klopp a derogatory term.

The Football Association handed Coote an eight-week ban in August in relation to the comments made about Liverpool and Klopp, while UEFA have already banned him from officiating until June 30, 2026 after photographs of him snorting a white powder, having been selected to appear as an assistant VAR official at Euro 2024, were published.

The PGMOL terminated Coote’s contract on Dec. 9.

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