After being sacked as a Premier League referee, David Coote revealed that he turned to drugs and “has been in a dark place” as he felt the need to hide his sexuality throughout his professional career, as he fears the abuse he would receive from fans.
In his first interview with British outlet, The Sun, since he was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL] in December, Coote admitted that “pressures if the job” also resulted to his poor decision-making, revealing that “he did not recognise himself” after the viral video of him criticising former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“I’m gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time,” Coote said in the chat.
“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 was fired after an investigation by PGMOL found him to be “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.”
“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position,” he continued.
“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.”
In the video which went viral, Coote described the former Liverpool boss as “an absolute c*nt” and “f*cking arrogant.”
When quizzed by his associate in the video as to why, the 42-year-old reflects back to an incident after the match between Liverpool and Burnley during lockdown in 2020.
“Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f*cking pop at me,” Coote said.
“I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f*cking arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him.”[James] Milner is all right, I get on with him. But, my god, German c*nt, f*ck me.”
The PGMOL also investigated a second video which made the rounds in November, showing Coote snorting a white powder, allegedly during the Euro 2024 tournament where he was working as a VAR assistant. UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.
Coote declined an allegation that he had discussed giving a yellow card before Leeds’ match against West Brom in October 2019, another matter the FA is currently looking into.Coote also said to The Sun he no longer uses drugs and expressed gratitude to his loved ones for helping him through this chapter of his life.
“I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me.
“I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping.
“I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now. I’ve taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from physical and mental well-being.”The physical and psychological demands on match officials are really significant.
“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.
“To other people who are in my situation, I’d say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done it has to come out in some way.
“I’ve found it easier since knowing my fate and being able to re-evaluate what’s important to me.
“To spend some quality time with family and friends, and take time to make sure I’m in the best place to move forwards,” said Coote.
