Former Premier League Referee David Coote Opens Up About Hiding His Sexuality and Struggles with Drugs
Former Premier League referee David Coote has revealed he hid his sexuality during his career, fearing the abuse he would receive for being gay in the “macho world” of football. The 42-year-old, who officiated over 100 top-flight matches, was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December following a series of scandals, including a video of him allegedly snorting cocaine and making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
In an emotional interview with The Sun, Coote admitted that hiding his sexuality and the pressures of his job led him to make “really poor choices,” including turning to drugs as an escape. He said, “I’m gay and I’ve struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time. I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref, and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”
Coote, who came out to his parents at 21 and to his friends at 25, described how the stress of his work, combined with personal tragedies, including the sudden death of his mother and his uncle’s motor neurone disease diagnosis, pushed him into a “pressure cooker” of suppressed emotions. He revealed that during the 2023-24 season, he officiated more than 90 games globally, including the European Championship and Olympics, leaving him physically and mentally drained.
The former referee also addressed the video of him allegedly snorting cocaine during Euro 2024, saying, “I don’t recognise myself in that video. I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position—escaping.” He admitted to using cocaine as a coping mechanism but said he has since sought therapy and overcome his drug habit.
Coote’s career unravelled after a series of incidents, including a video of him insulting Klopp and allegations of discussing issuing a yellow card before a Championship match in 2019, which he denies. He was suspended in November and later sacked by the PGMOL. The Football Association and UEFA are investigating his conduct.
Reflecting on his career, Coote said he hopes his story will encourage others in similar situations to seek help. “If you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way,” he said. “I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now.”
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