SACKED Premier League ref David Coote has arrived at court for sentencing after he admitted making an indecent video of a 15-year-old boy.
The 43-year-old was charged on August 12 last year following a probe by Nottinghamshire Police.
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David Coote, pictured arriving at court, will be sentenced todayCredit: Reuters
The ref was sacked in December last yearCredit: PA
It came after he was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024 over an online tirade against ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coote has arrived at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing where he faces a maximum five years in prison.
The shamed ref pleaded guilty to making a category A video – the most serious category – of a 15-year-old boy in January 2020.
Nottingham Crown Court heard previously his “sexual attraction” to children was discovered when the FA launched an investigation into Coote.
Examinations of two mobile phones during the independent probe found “conversations of concern”.
Coote was arrested when the disturbing video was discovered on a Dell laptop, last accessed on January 2, 2020.
Category A is the most serious of the categories and carries a maximum sentence of three years.
The offence of making an indecent image of a child refers to downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.
Coote officiated his first Premier League match in April 2018.
He went on to helm more than 100 top flight fixtures and was an official on the roster at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Coote was sacked as a referee after he was seen in leaked footage last November calling Klopp a “German c***” and referring to Liverpool as “s***”.
He said: “Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop of me.
“I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. James Milner is all right, I get on with him.
“You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German c***, f*** me.”
The PGMOL probe also focused on a second video that appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder.
The footage, which emerged in November 2024, was reportedly taken during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament.
European football‘s governing body UEFA banned Coote until June 30, 2026.
Following his sacking, he was seen in doorbell footage delivering packages for Evri earlier this summer.
In January, Coote came out as gay and said a long struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp and his apparent drug use.
Coote pleaded guilty to the child sex offenceCredit: Reuters
He officiated his first Premier League match in April 2018Credit: Getty
