David Coote, former ref for the English Premier League has entered a not guilty plea. He is currently charged with the production of an indecent visual depiction of a minor. The 43-year-old, of Collingham, was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 11, 2025. The hearing itself – which didn’t even last 18 minutes – is where most of the allegations against him were aired.
Moreover, the charge against Coote constitutes a Category A offence, an offence deemed serious under legal standards. The charges are based on one video file found during a 2/25/2025 search warrant executed by police. The case has been an extraordinary study in media and public interest. This scrutiny is of especially intense given Coote’s high-profile past within pro football.
Outside of these current charges, Coote’s career has come under serious criticism in recent months. UEFA subsequently appointed him as an ethics investigator, overseeing compliance at the organization. Yet, the group eventually banned him from carrying out any football-related mission until June 30, 2026. This suspension came after his firing in December 2024 by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). Coote was fired after a video leaked. In it, he apparently passed all kinds of cut insults towards Liverpool and their longtime manager, Jurgen Klopp.
Long before these controversies, Coote had garnered considerable respect in English football. In addition to working major tournaments, he continued to officiate in the Premier League for several years. The virulent reaction against the Klopp footage. The Football Association, therefore, issued an eight-week suspension in August 2025. This suspension was part of the broader disciplinary actions taken against him following the negative attention generated by the incident.
With the legal case still ongoing, what this means for Coote’s professional and personal life is yet to be seen. His not guilty plea shows he plans to fight the charges at trial. The legal system will determine the merit of the allegations made against him. It will determine what punishment he should receive, if any.
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