Former Premier League referee David Coote appeared in court on Monday to face charges of making an indecent video of a child, an offence classified as Category A — the most serious under UK law.
Coote, 43, from Newark, is accused of creating one Category A indecent video on January 2, 2020. Such offences typically involve the downloading, sharing, or possession of explicit material featuring minors.
The ex-official, who was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in 2024, had pleaded not guilty to the charge during an earlier court appearance. He was formally charged by Nottinghamshire Police on August 12.
Case Originated from FA Investigation
Prosecutor Ben Payne told the court that the case came to light after an FA investigation into Coote’s conduct, which led to a referral to the police.
“Two conversations that were of concern appeared to indicate Mr Coote had a sexual interest in children,” Payne said, noting that investigators examined mobile phones seized from the former referee.
The court also heard that the evidence was reviewed by a third-party digital forensic expert before charges were brought.
Coote’s Public Comments and Personal Struggles
Although Coote maintains his innocence, he has previously spoken publicly about being in a “dark place” around the time of the alleged incident and expressed remorse for his behaviour.
He also revealed that he had hidden his sexuality during his refereeing career, saying the fear of abuse made it difficult to live authentically.
“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to that position,” Coote said. “But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay and that I’ve had real struggles with hiding that. I hid my emotions as a young referee and my sexuality as well — a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being.”
Career and Fallout
Coote officiated in the Premier League for several seasons and was regarded as one of England’s top referees before his dismissal by PGMOL last year.
The court has yet to set a trial date, and Coote remains out on conditional release pending further hearings. The case continues to draw widespread attention in both sporting and legal circles.
