Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Premier League, PGMOL, Football
Luke Davies
Alleged footage of former Premier League referee David Coote has emerged and appears to show him doing a very different job.
Coote, 42, was initially suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on November 11 after a video of him allegedly making derogatory comments about former Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp emerged online.
Two days later, the Sun published photographs of him appearing to snort a white substance, after which the PGMOL said his actions made his position as a match official “untenable”.
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After an investigation into his conduct, Coote was sacked by the PGMOL in December.
"David Coote's actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract," the PGMOL said.
"Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us, and we remain committed to his welfare."
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Then, in January, Coote gave his first interview to the Sun following his sacking and referenced hiding his sexuality as something he had struggled with for so long.
Coote said: “My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. 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. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”
Speaking about taking substances, Coote added: “It’s not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month.
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“I’ve had long periods where I’ve not used it, but it was one of the escape routes I had. Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.”
Since then, there has been next to no coverage of Coote and his life, but on Monday (June 2), footage of the former referee was published by the Sun.
The clip, taken from a doorbell camera recording, appears to show Coote dropping off a parcel at a couple’s home.
The report claims that Coote works for the courier firm Evri in Nottinghamshire.
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“I want to get on with my life,” he told the outlet.
"I’m trying to move forwards and regain a sense of responsibility and purpose.
"The job is keeping me busy and occupied, it’s not a new long-term career.”
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The homeowner of the address he delivered to said: “My husband’s a Liverpool fan and what David said didn’t go down well.
"My husband had ordered a part for a vehicle he’s working on and recognised David.
"He said, ‘He’s delivering packages now’. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, is he really?’
"It’s his own downfall, at the end of the day. David got himself into this mess."