Nottingham, UK – September 2025 – Former Premier
League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to a charge of making an
indecent image of a child.
The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’
Court on Thursday, where the allegation was linked to a video recovered by
police in February 2025.
Wearing a navy suit, Coote spoke only to confirm his
identity and enter his plea during the 18-minute hearing.
The Charge
The offence of “making an indecent image of a child”
under UK law typically refers to downloading, sharing, or saving exploitative
photos or videos.
District Judge Gillian Young granted Coote conditional
bail and ordered him to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on October 9.
Controversial Past
Coote was dismissed from officiating duties in
December 2024 after a video surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks
about then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
He was later handed a ban by UEFA until June 2026 when
another video showed him allegedly snorting a white powder during Euro 2024 in
Germany.
In January 2025, Coote publicly came out as gay,
admitting that his struggle to hide his sexuality contributed to what he
described as “bad choices” in his personal life.
What’s Next
The case now moves to the Crown Court, where more
details are expected to emerge as prosecutors pursue the allegations.
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