Ex-Premier League referee facing prison time after pleading guilty in child image case
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David Coote pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to charges of making an indecent image of a child, which is a Category A offence, the most serious classification.
Former Premier League referee David Coote pleads guilty to making indecent images of a child. pic.twitter.com/8rplzMOt3z
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 14, 2025
Coote initially entered a not-guilty plea at Nottingham Magistrates' Court but later changed his plea at the Crown Court hearing. During the session, he confirmed his name and entered his plea of guilty.
The 43-year-old was granted conditional bail and is due to be sentenced on December 11, 2025.
Coote was dismissed in December 2024 by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after a video surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
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UEFA also sanctioned him following separate misconduct matters.
The case marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former top-flight official, who once oversaw Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL matches before his dismissal.
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