Who is Premier League referee David Coote? Career, personal life and controversies

From relative obscurity to public ignominy, Premier League referee David Coote has landed himself in hot water after several high-profile scandals.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited initially suspended Coote pending an investigation after a video emerged on social media appearing to show him calling Liverpool ‘s**t’ and former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp an ‘absolute c**t.

However, several other incidents relating to the 42-year-old have since emerged, sparking separate investigations by UEFA and the Football Association (FA).

Here is everything you need to know about Coote, including his refereeing career, personal life, and his several high-profile scandals.

Refereeing journey

Coote is one of the Premier League’s most experienced referees having started officiating games when he was just 16 years old.

He subsequently worked his way up the footballing pyramid. progressing through the sixth-tier Conference North before being promoted to the list of EFL referees in 2010.

The Englishman took charge of the 2014 League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium and was eventually promoted to the top flight in 2018.

His first game as a referee in the Premier League came in April of that year in a 1-0 win for West Brom over Newcastle. Just a few months later, he was promoted to the Premier League’s Select Group 1 – the top band for English referees.

In 2023, Coote was the referee for the Carabao Cup final which saw Manchester United beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley.

Coote’s last match prior to suspension saw him referee Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on 9 November.

High-profile controversies

While a leaked video appearing to show Coote launching into a foul-mouthed criticism of Klopp and Liverpool caused his initial suspension, several scandals relating to the referee have since emerged.

Just two days later, Coote was suspended by UEFA after a video surfaced of him snorting a white powder. The clip was allegedly filmed on July 6, the day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal. Coote was part of the refereeing team that day as a support VAR official.

Following that, a report from the Sun claimed that Coote attempted to organise a ‘drugs party’ while he was officiating a match between Tottenham and Manchester City last month.

And now, Coote is at the centre of an FA investigation after it was claimed he discussed booking a particular player with a friend before taking charge of a match between Leeds United and West Brom.

What Coote and others have said

While acknowledging issues in his own personal life, Coote has strongly refuted any suggestions of corruption.

‘I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,’ he told the Sun who first reported the claim. ‘Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.

‘I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.’

Several referees within the game, including former Premier League official Peter Walton have jumped to Coote’s defence.

Writing in The Times after the first leaked video, he said: ‘There are some Premier League referees I consider more loose-lipped, and more laddish in their behaviour away from the public spotlight. David is not one of them.

‘I would have described him as captain sensible, maybe a bit highly-strung at times, and not one of the lads. 

‘Unlike some referees, you rarely see him laughing and joking with players during matches – he is generally very straight-laced. I look at the video and wonder if part of the problem is that he is trying to be someone he is not.’

Few managers have commented on the ongoing situation, although Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca did say the comments were indefensible.

‘These kinds of things are not the reaction [you expect] from a player, a manager, a referee, or a normal human being who is not involved in football,’ he said.

‘The reaction is not the best one because there are things that are not correct to say. It doesn’t matter that he is a referee. If I, as a manager, say the same thing it is wrong. If a journalist says the same it is wrong.

‘So it doesn’t matter that he is a referee. Any human being that says these kinds of things. It is not good.’

Who does he support?

The PGMOL confirmed that the controversial referee is a fan of League Two side Notts County.

Family life

Not much is known about Coote’s personal life, such as any wife or partner, although he is the son of former Nottinghamshire cricketer David Edward Coote.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.