Former Premier League referee David Coote, 43, pleads guilty to making indecent image of a child

The 43-year-old was previously charged on August 12
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Former Premier League chief David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
The 43-year-old arrived at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, having previously been charged by police on August 12.
Coote's court appearance came after he'd been sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December after he'd been filmed insulting former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
His charge is a Category A offence, which concerns a video file recovered by police offficers in February 2025.
The offence of making an indecent image of a child refers to downloading, saving or sharing abuse photographs or videos.
Coote's career in the Premier League started in April 2018 and he proceeded to oversee more than 100 matches during his time in the top-flight.
However, his time in the game came crashing down earlier this year when a video emerged of him insulting Klopp on camera.
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In the video, the former official called Klopp a 'German c**t'. He was charged by the FA over the remarks, having been adjudged to have 'acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words'.
Coote also said in the clip: "Aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying and then just had a right f*****g pop at me.
"I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s fucking arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him … my God, German c**t, f**k me.”
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Coote was also banned by European football's governing body, UEFA, until June 30 2026.
Following his sacking, the 43-year-old was seen delivering packages for a delivery firm earlier this summer.
Coote issued an apology for his actions in January. He said: "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me.
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David Coote was sacked by the PGMOL
|REUTERS
"I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love.
"I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think.
"My focus now is on continuing to prioritise my mental health and wellbeing. I hope that my experiences, both on and off the field, can be utilised in football at some point in the future.
"Finally, I want to thank everyone who has supported me recently, in particular my family, friends, former colleagues, PGMOL and Howard Webb, and countless people across football.
"Special thanks also to the many strangers who have reached out with words of encouragement and support.
"I have appreciated it more than I can properly express."