David Coote’s Apology: A Deep Dive into the Pressures of Premier League Officiating
In a candid and heartfelt revelation, former Premier League referee David Coote has opened up about the circumstances that led to his dismissal last month by England referees’ body PGMOL. Coote, who was a familiar face on the pitch, officiating over 100 top-flight games, has publicly apologized for his actions, attributing them to the immense pressure of the job and the fear of abuse due to his sexuality.
Coote’s career took a dramatic turn when he was fired after being suspended in November. This followed the circulation of a video on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. The 42-year-old has since admitted that a fear of coming out as gay led him to turn to drugs, confessing that he “was not sober” at the time the video was recorded.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote expressed his remorse, saying, “I want to apologise to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions. You can tell by the video I wasn’t sober.” He further elaborated on the challenges he faced, stating, “I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”
Coote’s struggle with his identity was a significant factor in his behavior, though he acknowledges it wasn’t the sole reason. “My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay, and that I’ve had real struggles dealing with hiding that,” he admitted. He reflected on his past, noting, “I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well, a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being.”
The controversy surrounding Coote escalated when The Sun released a video allegedly showing him snorting white powder while officiating at Euro 2024, prompting a new UEFA investigation. Coote, who also officiated at last year’s Olympics, described being in an “incredibly dark place” since the video’s release, compounded by the pressures of his workload.
Reflecting on his personal struggles, Coote shared, “In 2023 I lost my mum very suddenly. At the same time my uncle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. After COVID and the introduction of VAR, six officials were suddenly needed for each game.” He continued, “I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me. I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position, escaping.”
Coote has since sought therapy and claims to be over his drug habit, though he still grapples with the shame of his actions. “I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now. I’ve taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from a physical and a mental wellbeing,” he said. He urged others in similar situations to seek help, advising, “To other people who are in my situation, I’d say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way.”
Coote’s story sheds light on the relentless abuse referees face, both from the stands and on social media, and its impact on their mental health. “Every official that takes to the pitch up and down the country from a local playing field to the Premier League is a human being, not just a referee,” he emphasized. “They have feelings. They may not show them, but it will impact them when they’re receiving abuse. I’ve struggled and I’ve tried to get through it in my own way and made poor decisions in doing so.”
- Coote officiated more than 100 top-flight games.
- He was suspended by PGMOL on Nov. 11.
- He officiated at Euro 2024 and the Olympics.
- Coote lost his mother in 2023 and his uncle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
