Andrea SannaFormer referee hid sexual orientation for years for fear of homophobia
Former Premier League referee David Coote, 42, has revealed that he hid his sexual orientation throughout his career for fear of homophobic abuse.
He is under investigation by the Football Association and UEFA for several derogatory comments he made about former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and for photographs published by The Sun newspaper showing him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024.
“As a young referee, I hid my emotions and my sexuality. It was a good quality as a referee, but a terrible quality as a human being“.
As well as revealing that he (along with his late mother) had received numerous death threats over controversial decisions on the pitch, he also admitted to using cocaine as an “escape” from the pressures of refereeing.
“I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell far short of what was expected of me. I apologise for any offence my actions may have caused and the negative light I have cast on the game I love“.
