Former Premier League referee David Coote has apologised for the actions that led to his sacking last month by English soccer's referees' body PGMOL, saying that the pressure of the job and fear of abuse due to his sexuality triggered his behaviour.

The former referee was sacked by the Premier League in 2024, with Coote revealing that he used cocaine as an escape.

Coote was initially suspended last October after footage emerged of him mocking ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

David Coote, the former Premier League referee sacked after making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has come out publicly as being gay and said that hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay in his first interview since being dismissed by PGMOL last month. The 42-year-old broke his silence in an emotional conversation with The Sun,

Sacked Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and says he took cocaine to ‘escape’ the ‘stresses and relentlessness of the job’. Coote, 42, was sacked by referees’ body PGMOL in December following a ‘thorough investigation’ into his conduct.

David Coote was fired by the PGMOL last month after a video emerged of him calling Liverpool "s---" and branding Jurgen Klopp a "German c---" - and another of him allegedly snorting cocaine