Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland

David Coote reached out to me when I came out as gay - he was really struggling

talksport.com, 28 January 2025, 10:57
Former Scottish footballer Zander Murray revealed to talkSPORT that David Coote reached out to him in 2022 when he first came out as gay.

Murray, who retired in late 2023, became the first Scottish footballer to come out as gay three years ago when he opened up about his sexuality.

Murray, who began his career at Motherwell before dropping down the Scottish pyramid, has revealed Coote was quick to reach out to him following his news.

During their exchange, Murray declared how the ex-Premier League referee told him he was fearful of coming out himself.

Coote made the decision on Monday to disclose his sexuality, admitting to alcohol and drug abuse due which ultimately saw him dismissed as a top-flight official.

One drunken video that was leaked showed the 42-year-old calling ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp an 'arrogant German c***'.

READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS

Police investigate threats made to referee Michael Oliver after Arsenal red card

Ex-PGMOL boss urges drastic action for Michael Oliver after controversial Arsenal red card

Meanwhile another showed him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024 last summer in Germany where he worked as an official.

And in his first interview since being sacked by the the referee's body Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL] last month, a tearful Coote conceded a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality was a contributing factor in his behaviour which saw him axed.

Coote has been subject to horrific abuse following his announcement, something ex-Bonnyrigg Rose forward Murray has slammed as he came to his defence.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast presenter Shebahn Aherne, Murray opened up on how supportive Coote was of himself, while also lifting the lid on the former referee's own demons.

Most read in Football

'I hope the red stands' - Jason Cundy slams response to Myles Lewis-Skelly sending off

Neymar transfer cost Al Hilal £10.5m-per-game as nightmare Saudi spell ends

Cody Gakpo reveals the player who stopped him joining Man United before Liverpool move

Ex-Premier League referee Coote comes out as gay and admits to taking cocaine

He said: "David reached out to me when I came out, when I was getting a bit of media onslaught, when I was getting homophobic abuse on social media.

"I was just reading through the messages again and there's no doubt about it, he resonated with my story back then and he was really, really struggling with his own sexuality back then.

"Fast forward to now, what he's done is obviously a huge error and a huge mistake and he's been punished for that.

"The abuse that he's getting, obviously the first onslaught and then now the homophobic abuse and threats, I think is absolutely disgusting.

"Now people are asking whether he is lying or is he just doing that to just make it easy for him.

"He was one of the first people to reach out to me and he definitely voiced that he was struggling with his own sexuality and using a vice for that, whether that be alcohol or drugs, I completely understand that because I've been in that position as well."

Aherne then posed the question as to whether Zander could understand Coote's decision-making, which ultimately led to the downfall of his career.

To which he replied: "Absolutely, I've been in this position for 16 years.

"I've been in the closet playing football, he's been in the football world for longer than that as well.

"I know for a fact that he's immensely struggled with this for years, a long, long time.

"He's really, really struggled with his own sexuality and the timing of it.

"I'm not in regular contact with him, but I can sort of vouch for the fact that he's definitely not lying in regards to it. He has been struggling with this for a long time."

Read More on talkSPORT

Harry Kane and Eric Dier make Bundesliga history in Bayern Munich win

Hollywood star stuns NFL fans by announcing favorite team after 50 years of silence

Coote refereed 112 Premier League matches during his career, with his first outing coming in April 2018, while also officiating games in both domestic cups and in the EFL.

His most recent outing as a top-flight whistleblower was Liverpool's 2-0 win against Aston Villa in November.

Former referee Dermot Gallagher has sympathy for David Coote after coming out as gay

Show more

Top News

31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is reportedly wanted by Aston Villa before the end of the window. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel has reportedly rejected an approach from Tottenham Hotspur. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa lock horns at Molineux for a West Midlands derby in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has reportedly rejected a move to Tottenham Hotspur in favour of a switch to Barcelona. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Aston Villa are exploring a move to sign Marcus Rashford, talkSPORT understands. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly renewed talks with Juventus over the signing of Andrea Cambiaso. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Stuart Armstrong's Major League Soccer (MLS) adventure is over after just 150 days after securing a move to Sheffield Wednesday. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have 'agreed a deal' to sign wonderkid Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola will have all three of his new signings back at his disposal for Sunday's Premier League battle with Arsenal at the Emirates. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Friends become foes for 90 minutes once again on Sunday afternoon, as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal host Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in a mouthwatering Premier League main event. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their efforts to offload Casemiro this month. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in Brighton & Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr have reportedly ended their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to keep their faint hopes of winning the top-tier title alive, Marseille will welcome Lyon to Stade Velodrome for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca gave a blunt response when asked about recalling Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan spell at Bournemouth. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The standout fixture on matchday 22 in the Eredivisie will come from the Johan Cruijff ArenA where Ajax will be playing host to Feyenoord on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton welcome relegation rivals Leicester City to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The two worst performers of the 2024-25 Premier League season so far go in search of a rare victory on Saturday afternoon, as 19th-placed Ipswich Town host basement boys Southampton at Portman Road. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boasting two of the Premier League's three longest unbeaten runs at this moment in time, Bournemouth and Liverpool meet in a mouthwatering Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has revealed that Ollie Watkins has reiterated his commitment to the club. 31 January 2025 talksport.com As if facing Real Madrid to save your Champions League campaign isn't enough, Manchester City also face a nightmare Premier League run in what is looking to be a February from hell. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be aiming for back-to-back Premier League victories when Crystal Palace visit the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace are prepared to be without the services of a first-team defender for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious knee injury. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are prepared to deploy youngster Kobbie Mainoo in an advanced role during Sunday afternoon's Premier League battle with Crystal Palace. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly yet to give the green light to a loan exit for defender Axel Disasi. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to record their fourth straight win across all competitions, Manchester United will welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Brighton have rejected a second offer worth £75million from Al-Nassr for winger Kaoru Mitoma. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the Scottish Premiership table are set to meet on Sunday afternoon when title hopefuls Rangers host relegation-threatened Ross County at Ibrox Stadium. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kike Garcia will be aiming to move into double figures in terms of La Liga goals this season when Alaves head to Barcelona on Sunday. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Robert Lewandowski will be looking to continue his excellent form against Alaves when Barcelona welcome the Basque side in La Liga on Sunday.