Ex-Premier League Ref David Coote Charged With Making Indecent Child Video

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent video of a child.

The 43-year-old is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, September 11 for a first hearing in relation to the charge.

Coote has been charged with making one indecent 'Category A' video of a child on January 2, 2020.

Category A is the most serious grading of video and typically involves images of 'penetrative sexual activity'.

"A suspect is due to appear in court after being charged with making an indecent image of a child," read a statement released by Nottinghamshire Police.

"David Coote, aged 43, has been charged with the offence after an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police. The charge relates to a video file recovered by officers in February of this year.

"Coote, of Collingham, was charged on 12 August and is currently on conditional police bail. He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court tomorrow 11 September."

Coote was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) - the body that oversees Premier League officials - in January over comments made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

David Coote was sacked by the PGMOL in January (Image: Getty)

Coote was dismissed after being found 'in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable'.

It followed a PGMOL investigation into two separate alleged videos of Coote which had circulated on social media.

The first video showed Coote making a series of derogatory comments about both Klopp and Liverpool.

A second video later emerged allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder during Euro 2024, a day after he served as a support VAR official for Spain's quarter final with Germany.

The 42-year-old later admitted to taking drugs, partially over a fear of coming out as gay.

"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 with hiding that," he said.

Coote will appear in court later this week (Image: Getty)

"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. And that's led me to a whole course of behaviours."

Coote was given an eight-week suspension by the FA in August and told to attend an education programme after admitting to an 'aggravated breach' of its rules in relation to the Klopp video.

The FA said Coote would face no further action on separate allegations of gambling misconduct, which he had strenuously denied at the time.

Coote had already been banned by European football's governing body UEFA in February until June 30, 2026 as a result of an investigation into the alleged Euro 2024 video.

The PGMOL declined to comment when approached by SPORTbible.