Liverpool

Coote was officially sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last month after a video emerged on social media showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp, before a separate clip showed him taking cocaine while allegedly working at Euro 2024.

The 42-year-old has since issued a public apology for his actions whilst also revealing in an interview with The Sun that struggles with his sexuality contributed to the "really poor choices" that ultimately cost him his job.

"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," said Coote.

"I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. 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."

Will Coote resume refereeing career?

He added: "I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult."

In a separate statement issued on Monday evening, Coote apologised for the behaviour that led to his sacking, saying: "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me.

"I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love. I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think."

Prior to his sacking by the PGMOL, Coote was regarded as one of the top video assistant referees in Europe, and it is understood that the Nottinghamshire-born official is keen to resume his career, if and when the time is right.

Paul Field, the chair of the Referees' Association (RA) which looks after the welfare of referees at all levels of English football, has praised Coote's "exemplary" work with young people and is of the opinion that he deserves a second chance in the English game.

Field: 'Coote deserves to have a role'

"He deserves to have a role," Field told reporters. "The work he does with young people is exemplary. He's an unbelievable tutor.

"He puts so much time and effort into the up-and-coming grassroots officials. He has a magnificent role to offer in terms of coaching, mentoring and support.

"I'd love for him to stay in the UK. I'd love him to be part of the English Football Association, training, mentoring, out of the public light to look after himself. He has so much to offer.

"I don't think he knows how much respect he has from other referees for the work he has done."

According to The Guardian, Coote is 'keeping an open mind' about what he will look to do in the future, while he remains confident that his name will be cleared after a Football Association investigation concludes relating to messages exchanged with a Leeds United supporter over a yellow card shown to one of their players in 2019.

Written by

Oliver Thomas