Bosnia And Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
South Korea

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

talksport.com, 27 January 2025, 22:05
Ex-Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay, claiming he took to cocaine due to fear over coming out in a 'macho world'.

Coote was dismissed from his post after a series of damaging videos, with one seeing him call Jurgen Klopp an 'arrogant German c***', while another emerged of him taking the Class-A drug while working as an official at Euro 2024.

Leaked text messages also emerged of Coote organising a drug-fuelled party while working as an official during the Tottenham vs Manchester City Carabao Cup tie in October.

In his first interview on the scandal, Coote explained that living a lie led to the end of his career.

"I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular," Coote said in a tearful interview with The Sun.

"I didn't come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn't come out to my friends until I was 25.

"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.

"And that's led me to a whole course of behaviours."

Coote admitted he 'wasn't sober' during his X-rated rant against former Liverpool manager Klopp.

Most read in Football

Aston Villa keen on Joao Felix but Chelsea teammate could prevent transfer from happening

Neymar set for return to Santos after their interest in Championship star

'Fuming' - Arsenal fan Laura Woods reacts as partner declares who newborn baby supports

Two Premier League clubs eye Axel Disasi but Chelsea need £30m to avoid loss

He added: "I've had issues around my self-esteem — and that relates to my sexuality. 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.

"There's a lot to be done throughout football and more widely in society with regard to discrimination.

"I didn't want to be that person that was putting their head above the parapet to be shot at, given the abuse we all get as a referee in any event."

Coote added that a 'pressure cooker' of suppressed emotion, combined with a punishing work schedule, left him wanting to 'escape' with cocaine.

He said: "It's not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month.

"I've had long periods where I've not used it — but it was one of the escape routes I had. Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route."

He recalled: "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.

"I was selected by Fifa for the U17 World Cup in Indonesia, as well as the Euros and Olympics last year.

"It meant that over the course of the 2023-24 season I was involved in more than 90 games — often back to back. At the end of last season I went straight into the Euros and that was incredibly pressurised. I had another tournament coming up immediately — heading to Paris for the Olympics."

Heartbroken talkSPORT host Jason Cundy left fearing for game's integrity with latest David Coote allegation

Breaking news. More follows...

Show more

Top News

11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tranmere vs. Fleetwood (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Looking to turn their fortunes around, struggling Tranmere Rovers welcome Fleetwood Town for their rescheduled matchday 16 League Two fixture this Tuesday. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Coventry vs. QPR (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Frank Lampard's Coventry City will hope to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment when they host Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday in the Championship at the Coventry Arena. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brest vs. PSG (Tuesday, 5.45pm) Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League on Tuesday evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has predicted the winner of the knockout round playoff tie with Manchester City will go on to win the Champions League. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti have addressed the controversy from the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash between their respective sides. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has reportedly reached an agreement to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City must axe Pep Guardiola if they fail to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by five points in the middle of the Championship table, Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday will square off in South Wales on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Abdoulaye Doucoure has criticised Frank Lampard's treatment of him during his time as Everton manager. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde during the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly growing in confidence that they will complete the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer after last year's failed move. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of Tuesday's Champions League playoff first-leg matches undoubtedly comes from the Etihad, where 2022-23 winners Manchester City and current holders Real Madrid square off in a clash of the titans. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to let Casemiro leave on loan to Flamengo before the end of the month. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Stars of the FA Cup fourth round Plymouth Argyle have been rewarded for their stunning win over Liverpool by being drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle have been handed another mammoth task in the FA Cup fifth round having been drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica travel to the Stade Louis II for the second time this season to face Monaco in the Champions League knockout round playoffs on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool go to Goodison Park for a Merseyside derby against Everton for the final time on Wednesday night in the 245th iteration of the fixture. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's "best chance" of quelling the "almighty threat" of Real Madrid in the Champions League could be to select almost the same defence that excelled during their treble-winning season, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City host Real Madrid this Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League play-off blockbuster. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Abdukodir Khusanov performed well in Man City's FA Cup win over Leyton Orient and there were signs to suggest that he has the potential to develop into a "special player", Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will ring the changes again when they welcome Bayern Munich to Glasgow in the Champions League on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich could be largely unchanged from the team that beat Werder Bremen when they go to Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic will play their first Champions League knockout match for 12 years when they welcome German giants Bayern Munich to Glasgow on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Joao Felix has admitted he'd welcome the opportunity to stay at AC Milan despite being on loan from Chelsea. 10 February 2025 talksport.com A former Chelsea midfielder has returned to the UK in a new role over a decade after becoming a pastor in Canada. 10 February 2025 talksport.com While Harry Kane is well on course to win the first trophy of his career, he's already got numbers two and three on his mind. 10 February 2025 talksport.com A former Premier League star has quietly resigned from his latest managerial post after just 20 days. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard hailed 'incredible' Pilgrims manager Miron Muslic after their FA Cup giant-killing of Liverpool. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Felix has revealed whether he would be willing to consider a permanent transfer from Chelsea to AC Milan during the summer.
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.