Ex-Premier League referee, David Coote opens up about hiding his sexuality

Former Premier League referee David Coote has revealed he kept his sexuality hidden during his career, fearing backlash and abuse for being gay.

The 42-year-old shared that the pressures of his role contributed to the actions that led to his dismissal by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.

In an interview with The Sun, Coote said: “I’m gay, and I’ve struggled for a long time to feel proud of being ‘me.’ I’ve faced deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a referee, and revealing my sexuality would have made things even harder.”

Coote, who officiated over 100 Premier League matches, also issued an apology for his misconduct, stating, “This has been one of the toughest times of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell far below the standards expected of me.”

This marks Coote’s first public interview since his dismissal, with The Sun being the outlet that initially reported on the misconduct allegations.

“I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love. I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think.”

Speaking about his sexuality to the Sun, Coote said he felt a “deep sense of shame” during his teenage years and told his parents when he was 21 and his friends when he was 25.

“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position,” he said. “But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay, and that I’ve had real struggles dealing with hiding that.

“I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being,” he said. “And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”

David Coote has spoken out as police investigate “threats and abuse” directed at referee Michael Oliver after Arsenal’s match against Wolves on Saturday.

Coote revealed that he received death threats throughout his career, some of which were aimed at his late mother. He also shared that he had to have an accelerated response tag installed at his home so he could quickly contact police in case of an emergency.