Ex-Premier League Referee David Coote Admits Making an Indecent Image of a Child
Former Premier League functionary David Coote has contended shamefacedly to creating a nasty image of a child, a serious charge that has sent shockwaves through the football community.
The 43- time-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, facing allegations concerning an order A videotape, the most severe category, which was seized by police before this time.
Coote, dressed in a cortege suit with a black tie, spoke only to confirm his identity and enter his plea during a brief six-nanosecond hail.
He was granted tentative bail and is required to return to court on 11 December.
❌ Sacked Premier League ref David Coote in court accused of making indecent video of child.
I really do feel pity for this man #PremierLeague #football #referee pic.twitter.com/W42E1cOEfH
— Kari Sports (@karisportshq) October 14, 2025
“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter,” Judge Nirmal 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 adjudicator, once a familiar figure in Premier League matches, had formerly faced scrutiny after being dismissed from his officiating duties last time.
This followed the release of a videotape in which he made depreciatory commentary about former Liverpool director Jurgen Klopp in 2020.
The case has shocked many in the sporting world, raising questions about conduct off the pitch and the responsibility of high-profile officers.
A pre-sentence report will now determine the way in Coote’s case, as the courts weigh the inflexibility of the offense and his former record.
David Coote’s fall from grace has been nippy, from refereeing top-flight football to facing serious felonious charges.
