David Coote, a former Premier League referee, faced struggles with his sexuality and the pressures of his job, leading to drug use and controversies. He hopes to help others seek help.
David Coote, a former Premier League referee, has recently revealed the personal struggles that contributed to his professional downfall. Coote’s career ended after the emergence of videos showing him using cocaine and making offensive remarks. However, his recent statements provide a deeper understanding of the issues he was facing.
Sexuality and Self-Esteem Issues
Coote has stated that his struggles with his sexuality played a significant role in his poor choices. He identifies as gay and admits to feeling shame and lacking pride in his identity for a long period. He did not come out to his parents until he was 21 and to his friends until he was 25. This internal conflict led to a double life, where he hid his emotions and sexuality, which he acknowledges was a good trait for a referee but damaging to him as a person. Coote believes that these issues impacted his self-esteem and led to other negative behaviors.
The Pressure of Refereeing
The high-pressure environment of Premier League refereeing also contributed to Coote’s challenges. He described his work as “relentless” and said he felt the need to “escape” through drug use. Coote admitted that he used cocaine as an escape from the pressures and stresses of the job. He was not reliant on it daily but it became one of his routes to get away from it all. He said that he was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. Additionally, Coote faced considerable abuse and even death threats while refereeing, which made him fearful of adding his sexuality to that mix.
Drug Use and Controversies
Videos of Coote using cocaine at Euro 2024 surfaced and he later admitted his usage. He stated he does not recognize himself in the video and was struggling with the schedule. He also confirmed the substance he was seen snorting was cocaine. This incident followed an earlier suspension when footage emerged of Coote using offensive language towards former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Further allegations arose concerning his involvement in attempting to organize a drugs party and an FA probe regarding him issuing a yellow card to order.
Investigation and Allegations
Coote was the subject of multiple investigations. In one instance, it was alleged that he had made an agreement with a friend to ensure a yellow card was given to a player. He denies this and says that the player committed a yellow card tackle and he did his job. He did message his friend after the game saying “I hope you backed as discussed” but clarified there was no agreement made prior to the game. He states that he is disappointed that these allegations have come out as it tarnishes the integrity of the game.
Personal Struggles and Reflection
Coote also faced personal tragedies, including the sudden loss of his mother and his uncle’s diagnosis of motor neurone disease, alongside his demanding work schedule. This led to him being involved in more than 90 games during the 2023-24 season, further increasing the stress he was under. Coote said he was trying to deflect a friend by messaging him and he was naive. He admits that he made poor choices and wishes he could turn back the clock and do things differently. He believes that all of this has helped him re-evaluate his life. He is now seeking therapy and has stopped using drugs.
Looking Ahead
Coote hopes his story will help to break down the “macho world” of Premier League football and encourage others facing similar situations to seek help. He urges individuals in his situation not to bottle up their feelings and to speak to someone. He has also said that he now wants to spend quality time with his family and friends. Despite the loss of his career, Coote believes the experience has allowed him to take stock of what’s important in his life and is working towards moving forward.
The events surrounding David Coote’s career illustrate the intense pressures faced by officials in professional sports and the importance of mental health and support systems. His story has also brought to light the deep-seated homophobia and abuse that exists within the football community, as highlighted by former rugby referee Nigel Owens, who noted that while things have improved, a lot of work still needs to be done.
Sources: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/33035161/david-coote-cocaine-sexuality-referee/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm218dy149ro
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/jan/27/sacked-referee-david-coote-reveals-struggles-with-his-sexuality-led-to-really-poor-choices