Ex-PL Referee David Coote Pleads Guilty Of Making Indecent Image Of Child

Last Updated:October 14, 2025, 16:38 IST

David Coote, former Premier League referee, pleaded guilty to making a Category A indecent image of a child at Nottingham Crown Court and faces sentencing on December 11.

Disgraced PL referee David Coote (X)

Former Premier League referee David Coote pleaded guilty on Tuesday to making an indecent image of a child, marking a devastating new chapter in his long fall from grace.

The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, where he admitted to the offence linked to a Category A video — the most serious classification of child sexual abuse material — discovered by police in February this year.

The charge: most serious category of child abuse material

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that investigators uncovered the indecent video on one of Coote’s electronic devices earlier this year, prompting the charge.

Prosecutors confirmed that the offence dates back to January 2, 2020, when Coote was still an active referee in the Premier League. The video, later recovered by police in February 2025, falls under Category A, which includes the most extreme forms of child sexual abuse, such as penetrative sexual activity, acts of sexual violence, and sadistic or torturous abuse.

Category A offences are regarded as among the most severe in UK law, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The charge of “making" an indecent image of a child can apply not only to producing such material but also to downloading, saving, or sharing images or videos of abuse.

Coote, dressed in a navy suit and black tie, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea during a brief six-minute hearing before Judge Nirmal Shant KC.

The judge granted him conditional bail and ordered a pre-sentence report ahead of his next court appearance on December 11, warning him of the gravity of his admission.

“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter," Judge Shant told Coote. “Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court, which is why I have ordered a pre-sentence report."

The former referee will return to court on December 11, where a judge will determine whether his offence merits a custodial sentence.

Coote’s disgraceful decline from top referee to convicted offender

Coote’s plea comes just months after a series of controversies that already tarnished his career and reputation.

The former match official had earlier been sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) — the body overseeing referees in England — following the leak of offensive and discriminatory online content, including a video in which he insulted former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, referring to him as a “German c***" and calling him “arrogant."

The clip, which surfaced on social media in November 2024, caused widespread backlash and led to his suspension. The PGMOL dismissed him in December 2024, stating that Coote had been “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract," leaving his position “untenable."

The Football Association (FA) launched its own investigation soon after and formally charged Coote in June 2025 over the incident. UEFA also banned him from officiating international fixtures.

Before his downfall, Coote had officiated 112 Premier League matches, along with numerous fixtures across the English Football League (EFL) and domestic cup competitions.

(with agency inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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