Referee Coote hid sexuality for fear of abuse

Former Premier League referee David Coote has stated that he hid his sexual orientation throughout his career due to fears of facing abuse for being gay. The 42-year-old Coote claims that work-related stress contributed to his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper published on Monday evening, Coote said: "I am gay, and for a long time, I have struggled to be proud of my ‘true self’. As a referee, I have received some very unpleasant abuse during my career, and it would have been even more difficult if my sexuality was added to that." Coote, who has officiated over 100 top-flight matches, gave his first interview to The Sun, the same publication that had previously reported on his misconduct.

In a separate statement released later on Monday, Coote apologized for the behavior that led to his dismissal, saying: "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell far short of the standards expected of me. I am deeply sorry for any offense caused by my actions and for the negative impact this has had on the sport I love. I hope people can understand that these were private moments during a low point in my life, and they do not reflect who I am or what I stand for now."

In The Sun interview, Coote discussed his sexual orientation, stating that he felt a "deep sense of shame" during his teenage years, came out to his parents at 21, and to his friends at 25. He said, "My sexuality wasn’t the sole reason I ended up in that place. But I wouldn’t be telling an honest story if I didn’t say I am gay and that I’ve had a real struggle hiding that. I hid my emotions when I was younger as a referee and I hid my sexuality – which might be a good quality as a referee, but a terrible quality as a person, and that has led to a series of behaviors."

Coote's comments come as police investigate the "threats and abuse" directed at referee Michael Oliver following the Arsenal vs. Wolves match. Coote revealed he has received death threats during his career, some of which targeted his late mother. He also stated that an accelerated response tag had to be installed at his home address, enabling him to speak to the police in emergencies. Coote also mentioned that he was initially suspended by PGMOL on November 11, after a video surfaced on social media showing him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and the club's former manager Jurgen Klopp. He now says he apologizes to "everyone who has been offended by my actions" and that he was "not sober" when he recorded the video.

On November 13, The Sun published photos allegedly taken during last year's Euros showing Coote appearing to snort a white powder using a rolled-up dollar bill. His actions are under investigation by the Football Association and UEFA, European football's governing body. Coote told The Sun that he has been in a "very dark place" since the photos from the Euros were published and that he is "not sure if I would be here today" without the support of his family and colleagues. On November 27, a new FA investigation was launched after allegations surfaced that Coote had discussed giving out a yellow card before a Championship match between Leeds and West Brom in 2019. He has denied these allegations.

Speaking about the events that led to his dismissal, he said his mother passed away suddenly in 2023, coinciding with his uncle being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. During the 2023-24 season, he said he officiated over 90 matches around the world before attending the Euros and the Olympics, and he had been struggling with the pressure and stress of the job, adding: "The demands on match officials are incredibly high, both physically and mentally. I don’t recognise myself in that cocaine video. I can’t relate to how I was feeling then, but that was me. I was struggling with the schedule and not having a chance to stop. So I found myself in that place - an escape."

Coote told The Sun that he has overcome his drug addiction after seeking treatment and feels a "deep sense of shame" for what has happened. "I am owning what I did, but I am now working to be the best version of myself. I have taken steps to try and be the best I can be, from a physical and mental health perspective," he added. "To other people in my situation, I would say to seek help and talk to people, because if you bottle it up like I did, it has to come out in some way." BBC Sport has contacted PGMOL for comment. If any of the issues in this article have affected you, you can visit the BBC Action Line for information and support regarding addiction.