Ex Premier League Referee Coote Confesses to Making Indecent Image of a Child

Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child. 

The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, where he admitted to creating a category A video, the most serious type of child abuse image.

Coote, dressed in a navy suit and black tie, spoke briefly during the six-minute hearing to confirm his name and enter his plea. The case relates to a video recovered by police in February this year.

Judge Nirmal Shant granted Coote conditional bail and ordered a pre-sentence report ahead of his next court appearance scheduled for December 11.

“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter,” the judge said. “Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court.”

Coote’s fall from grace follows his sacking from the Premier League last year after a video emerged of him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in 2020.

The sentencing in December will determine Coote’s punishment for the offence.