David Coote, the former Premier League referee, has admitted to creating an indecent image involving a child and now faces a potential prison sentence of up to a decade.
The 43-year-old official, who was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last year, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court earlier today.
Hailing from Newark, Coote confessed to producing a single ‘category A’ indecent image of a child on January 2, 2020.
Category A represents the gravest classification, encompassing offenses such as downloading, sharing, or storing such material. Conviction under this category carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
The incriminating video was accessed through a Dell laptop registered to PGMOL. Following his guilty plea, Coote will be subject to the Sex Offenders Register notification requirements, with the duration contingent upon his eventual sentence.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 11.
Dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, and black tie, Coote had initially denied the charges at the city magistrates court.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC cautioned Coote about the seriousness of his offense, emphasizing that a custodial sentence remains a distinct possibility: “You must not assume that a guilty plea guarantees a non-custodial outcome.”
Coote was granted conditional bail, with strict prohibitions against any contact with individuals under 18 and restrictions on residing at addresses where minors live.
Additionally, he is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which limits his activities. Such orders can include measures like preventing the clearing of internet browsing histories and imposing controls on online behavior.
Prosecutor Ben Payne revealed that the case emerged following an investigation by the Football Association (FA), which led to police involvement and examination of Coote’s mobile devices by an independent party.
Payne noted, “Two conversations raised concerns, suggesting Mr. Coote had a sexual interest in children.”
After police inquiries, Coote was arrested at his residence, and the PGMOL-registered Dell laptop was confiscated. The device contained a Category A video depicting a 15-year-old child, which was accessed on the date cited in the charge.
The laptop was seized on August 12, over eight months after Coote’s dismissal from PGMOL.
Coote, once a prominent figure in top-tier and international refereeing, was removed from his position in December following the release of a video in which he made offensive remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
In June, the FA charged Coote for the derogatory comments, which included calling Klopp a “German ****.” The FA classified this as an aggravated breach due to the reference to Klopp’s nationality.
Earlier this year, PGMOL chief Howard Webb confirmed that Coote’s return to officiating was highly unlikely. Webb expressed sympathy but acknowledged the difficulty of a comeback: “David was part of our refereeing family for many years, and it’s unfortunate what has transpired, but a return would be very challenging.”
Coote has expressed regret over his conduct, revealing he was in a troubled state when the videos were recorded. He also disclosed that he concealed his homosexuality throughout his career due to fear of discrimination and abuse.
“My sexuality is not the sole reason for my actions, but I cannot tell an honest story without acknowledging that I am gay and struggled deeply with hiding that,” he admitted. “I suppressed my emotions and sexuality as a young referee – qualities that might have helped me professionally but harmed me personally, leading to a series of poor decisions.”
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