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Former Premier League referee David Coote has revealed that he hid his sexuality throughout his career due to fear of abuse for being gay. The 42-year-old said the pressures of his job, coupled with personal struggles, contributed to the behavior that led to his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote opened up about his sexuality and its impact on his mental health. "I'm gay, and I've struggled with feeling proud of being 'me' for a long time," he said. Coote admitted he endured significant abuse during his refereeing career and feared that disclosing his sexuality would make things worse. "I hid my emotions as a young referee, and I hid my sexuality too—a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being," he added.
Coote officiated over 100 Premier League games but was suspended by PGMOL in November after a video surfaced on social media showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp. This was followed by the publication of photos that allegedly showed him using cocaine during the European Championship. Coote apologized for his actions, admitting he was not sober at the time the video was recorded. "I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell far below the standards expected of me," he said, expressing regret for the negative attention it brought to football.
The referee shared that he faced immense personal and professional challenges in recent years, including the sudden death of his mother in 2023 and his uncle's motor neurone disease diagnosis. He said the combination of these events and the intense demands of his work pushed him to a breaking point. "I officiated over 90 games globally in one season, followed by the Euros and Olympics. The psychological and physical toll was significant," he explained, describing how the pressure led to substance use as an escape.
Coote has since sought therapy and overcome his drug habit, working on his mental and physical well-being. He urged others facing similar struggles to seek help. "Bottling it up like I did only leads to it coming out in destructive ways," he said.
