- UEFA bans former Premier League referee David Coote from officiating until June 2026.
- Coote was sacked by PGMOL after videos surfaced of him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and allegedly using drugs.
- In a January interview, he revealed his struggle with hiding his sexuality contributed to poor decisions and apologized for his actions.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has imposed a ban on former Premier League , barring him from any officiating duties until June 2026.
The 42-year-old was dismissed by Premier League Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December after a leaked video showed him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and the club’s former manager, Jürgen Klopp.
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Another video later surfaced, appearing to show Coote snorting a white substance, reportedly during Euro 2024. PGMOL deemed his actions a serious breach of contract, stating that his position had become “untenable.”
UEFA’s control, ethics, and disciplinary body convened last week and ruled that Coote had violated fundamental standards of decent conduct, bringing both football and UEFA into disrepute.
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In a January interview, Coote revealed that he is gay, explaining that his struggle to conceal his sexuality had contributed to poor decisions, including his remarks about Liverpool and drug use.
He expressed remorse, saying he was “truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions.”
