Former Premier League referee David Coote has been handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to making an indecent image of a child, a UK court has confirmed.
The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, where he admitted to creating a Category A indecent image, the most serious classification under British law. As part of his sentence, Coote will avoid immediate imprisonment but must comply with strict conditions during the two-year suspension period.
The offence came to light after police seized electronic devices during an investigation earlier in 2025. A video discovered on one of Coote’s laptops showed explicit content involving a minor. The former referee pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, accepting responsibility for his actions.
Coote was once regarded as an established official in English football, having refereed more than 100 Premier League matches. However, his career collapsed in late 2024 following the emergence of controversial video footage involving inappropriate remarks about Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. The incident led to his dismissal by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
