Former Premier League Referee David Coote Admits to Child-Image Offence
David Coote, a former top-flight English football referee, has pleaded guilty to a charge of making an indecent image of a child.
Coote appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, where he admitted to the offence.
Previously, he had denied the allegation at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
The charge relates to a Category A video, the most serious classification under UK law for indecent material involving children.
The alleged file was recovered by police in February of this year.
During the brief hearing, Coote confirmed his name and entered the guilty plea, but gave no further comment.
He was granted conditional bail by Judge Nirmal Shant KC, and was ordered to appear again on December 11 for sentencing.
The judge directed that a pre-sentence report be prepared to assist in determining whether a custodial sentence is appropriate.
Coote has also been issued a sexual harm prevention order and instructed to avoid contact with minors.
Background & Related Issues
Coote’s refereeing career ended in December 2024 after he was dismissed by the English referees’ body (PGMOL) for making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
Earlier in 2025, UEFA imposed a ban on Coote’s involvement in officiating until June 2026 following revelations of misconduct.
Coote has publicly disclosed that he is gay and has discussed the psychological pressures he faced hiding his sexuality during his career.
Sentencing will be watched closely, as the case underscores serious concerns about misconduct and safeguarding within the sport.