David Coote (referee)

David Coote
Full name David Harry Coote
Born (1982-07-11) 11 July 1982 (age 42)
Nottingham, England
Domestic
Years League Role
?–2010 Football Conference Referee
2010–2018 English Football League Referee
2018–2024 Premier League Referee
International
Years League Role
2020–2022 FIFA listed Referee

David Harry Coote (born 11 July 1982) is an English former football referee.[1] His county FA is the Nottinghamshire Football Association.[1] He belonged to the Select Group of Referees in England and officiated primarily in the Premier League before his dismissal in December 2024.[2]

Early life

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David Harry Coote[3] was born on 11 July 1982[4] in Nottingham.[5]

Career

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Coote started refereeing as a sixteen-year-old. He refereed in the Notts Alliance League, the Northern Counties East Football League, the Northern Premier League and the Conference North before being promoted to the Football League list of referees as an assistant referee.[6][7] His first game in this role came in a League Two game between Stockport County and Hereford United. He was promoted to the list of Football League referees in 2010.[8] In May 2014, Coote was the referee for the 2014 League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium between Leyton Orient and Rotherham United.[9]

Coote officiated his first Premier League game between Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion on 28 April 2018, a game which ended as a 1–0 victory to West Brom.[10][11] Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Coote was promoted to Select Group 1.[12][13]

Coote was appointed to officiate the 2023 EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle United on 14 February 2023, which Manchester United went on to win 2–0.[14]

Controversies

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On 11 November 2024, Coote was suspended by PGMOL after video footage emerged in which he made derogatory comments about Liverpool and described Jürgen Klopp as an arrogant "German cunt".[15][16][17] According to The Guardian, the "video appears to date from the 2020–21 season".[17] During that season, Coote was the video assistant referee for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on 17 October, a game which saw Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford go unpunished for what TNT Sports called "a horror tackle" on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk which resulted in a season-ending injury.[17][18] Having watched the footage of the tackle, Coote did not call for any action on Pickford, instead focusing on a marginal offside in the buildup to the collision.[19] Coote initially claimed the video was not real,[20] however he later admitted that it was genuine.[21] On 13 November, another video emerged allegedly showing Coote snorting a white powder during Euro 2024,[22][23] leading to Coote being suspended by UEFA.[24]

On 27 November 2024, following a report by The Sun, the Football Association confirmed that they were also investigating Coote for possible match fixing.[25] Allegedly, Coote had prearranged to hand out a yellow card during the Championship game between Leeds United and West Brom in October 2019, in order to benefit a friend through betting. Coote denied any wrongdoing. The FA and PGMOL said they were taking the allegations very seriously.[26][27] On 9 December, the investigation concluded and Coote was sacked with immediate effect.[28]

Personal life

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Coote is the son of David Coote who played cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "David Coote Referee Profile". Premier League. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Premier League referee David Coote sacked after investigation into his conduct". Sky News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  3. ^ "International football referee David Coote". EU football.info. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  4. ^ "D. Coote: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  5. ^ Holt, Matthew (12 November 2024). "David Coote's Liverpool record analysed as he is placed under investigation for shocking social-media video leak". FourFourTwo. Future Publishing. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  6. ^ Jackson, Kieran (11 November 2024). "Who is David Coote? Premier League referee suspended after apparent tirade against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  7. ^ Burke, Elias (11 November 2024). "Who is David Coote, the referee under investigation for Liverpool video outburst?". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Men in Black — David Coote". www.football-league.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Leyton Orient 2–2 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  10. ^ Davies, Matt (28 April 2018). "Nottinghamshire referee David Coote to take charge of his first Premier League game". Nottinghamshire Live. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ Taylor, Louise (28 April 2018). "West Brom give themselves hope with Matt Phillips winner against Newcastle". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Hooper and Coote to feature in PL next season". Premier League. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  13. ^ Davies, Matt (29 May 2018). "Nottinghamshire referee David Coote promoted to top level of Premier League officials". Nottinghamshire Live. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Carabao Cup Final 2023 referee appointments". EFL. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ^ "David Coote: Premier League referee suspended amid video showing apparent criticism of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp". Sky Sports. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  16. ^ Buckingham, Philip; Pearce, James (11 November 2024). "David Coote: PGMOL suspend referee after alleged comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp". The Athletic. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  17. ^ a b c MacInnes, Paul (11 November 2024). "Referee David Coote suspended over apparent video of foul-mouthed Klopp rant". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Jordan Pickford's unpunished horror tackle on Virgil van Dijk". TNT Sports. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Jordan Pickford avoids disciplinary action for Virgil van Dijk challenge". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Coote 'denies inappropriate conduct'". BBC. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  21. ^ Mills, Richie (11 November 2024). "Suspended referee David Coote reportedly admits video of foul-mouthed tirade about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is real as PGMOL investigate footage". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  22. ^ "PGMOL aware of video allegedly showing David Coote snorting white powder". The Independent. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  23. ^ "David Coote: PGMOL aware of new video appearing to show suspended Premier League referee". Sky Sports. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  24. ^ Ziegler, Martyn (13 November 2024). "Referee David Coote filmed snorting white powder at Euro 2024". The Times. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Premier League referee David Coote investigated for betting scandal". besoccer.com. 27 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.
  26. ^ "David Coote: FA investigating claims referee discussed giving yellow card". theguardian.com. 27 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.
  27. ^ "FA investigates referee Coote over booking claims". bbc.com. 27 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.
  28. ^ Jackson, Bobbie (9 December 2024). "David Coote: Premier League official sacked with immediate effect". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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