Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making a ‘category A’ indecent video of a child, Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed.
The 43-year-old, from Collingham, is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 11, 2025. He was charged on August 12 and remains on conditional bail.
In a statement, Nottinghamshire Police said:
A suspect is due to appear in court after being charged with making an indecent image of a child. David Coote, aged 43, has been charged with the offence after an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.
The charge relates to a video file recovered by officers in February of this year. Coote, of Collingham, was charged on 12 August and is currently on conditional police bail. He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, 11 September.
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Coote was dismissed by referees’ body PGMOL last year following a series of scandals. He was suspended after footage emerged appearing to show him using a rolled-up banknote to sniff a white powder, with the images said to have been taken during Euro 2024
He was also caught up in further controversy when a leaked recording revealed him launching a foul-mouthed tirade at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, calling the German coach abusive names and admitting to avoiding contact with him.
The FA charged Coote over the remarks, and in August imposed an eight-week suspension alongside a mandatory education program. An independent commission ruled his comments amounted to an aggravated breach of FA rules as they included a reference to nationality.
Coote also came under scrutiny for allegedly organizing a hotel “drugs party” while on refereeing duty at a Carabao Cup clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
His dismissal from PGMOL and FA sanctions effectively ended his refereeing career at the top level and now he faces the most serious allegations yet.
