Former Premier League referee David Coote has been banned from officiating in any UEFA competition until June 2026.
Coote, who was previously an elite referee under Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), had his contract terminated in December. This followed the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp. Another video showed him taking cocaine during the 2024 European Championships, where he was officiating.
PGMOL stated that Coote had seriously breached his employment contract, making his position “untenable.” UEFA’s control, ethics, and disciplinary body also ruled that he had violated the basic rules of decent conduct and brought both football and UEFA into disrepute. As a result, he has been banned from any UEFA refereeing activity until June 30, 2026.
In January, Coote revealed in an interview that he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality, which contributed to his poor decisions. He admitted that hiding his emotions and personal life led to behaviors that he now regrets. He apologized for his actions, stating that those moments did not define who he is today.
Coote has also spoken about the mental toll of being a referee, including receiving abuse and death threats. Despite his ban, he remains open to future opportunities and is awaiting the outcome of an FA investigation into messages exchanged with a Leeds fan regarding a yellow card incident in 2019.
