European football’s governing body, UEFA, has imposed a ban on former Premier League referee David Coote, preventing him from officiating until June 2026.
Coote, 42, was dismissed by Premier League Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December following the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and the club’s former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
Another leaked video later surfaced, showing Coote allegedly snorting a white substance, reportedly during Euro 2024. PGMOL stated that his conduct represented a severe breach of his employment contract, making his position “untenable.”
UEFA’s control, ethics, and disciplinary body reviewed the matter last week, concluding that Coote had violated fundamental standards of proper conduct and tarnished the reputation of football and UEFA.
In a January interview, Coote publicly came out as gay and admitted that his struggle to conceal his sexuality contributed to poor decisions, including his comments about Liverpool and his involvement with drugs.
Expressing remorse, he stated, “I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions.”
