Former Premier League Referee David Coote Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense

David Coote, a former top-tier football referee, has admitted to possession of a Category A image of a child, a serious offense, which was recovered by police in February. Coote, 43, who was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last year, appeared in Nottingham Magistrates’ Court where he changed his plea to guilty from not guilty.

During the hearing, the judge ordered a pre-sentence report before sentencing, scheduled for December 11. Coote was arrested after FA officials investigating his conduct examined his phone and found conversations indicating a sexual interest in children. The police then confiscated his laptop, where the Category A image of a 15-year-old was discovered.

The investigation was triggered after conversations on Coote’s mobile device raised concerns. Authorities arrested him at his home, and the seized laptop was found to contain the illicit image, which he accessed in August—over eight months after his dismissal from the league.

Coote, who also faced controversy last year for a leaked video where he called ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp a derogatory term, was sacked by the Premier League following that incident. The Football Association later charged him for comments about Klopp, alleging an aggravated breach of conduct rules.

In his court statement, Coote expressed remorse and disclosed struggles related to his sexuality, revealing he had hidden being gay during his career due to fear of abuse. He described feeling in a dark place when the videos were recorded and acknowledged that hiding his emotions and sexuality contributed to his troubled behavior.

Earlier this year, Coote was seen delivering parcels for courier company Evri, marking a departure from his officiating career. Despite his remorse and past service, a senior official indicated that a return to refereeing is unlikely, citing the difficulty of reconciling his actions with his professional role.

David Coote arrived at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to face charges related to a child image