JUST IN: FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE DAVID COOTE PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD INDECENCY CHARGE

October 14, 2025

Read Time:1 Minute, 3 Second

Agency Report

Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to creating an indecent image of a child during a court appearance on Tuesday.

According to a report by Sky Sports, the 43-year-old admitted to the offence at Nottingham Crown Court, where he appeared before Judge Nirmal Shant KC for a brief hearing.

The charge relates to a Category A video the most serious classification under UK law discovered by police earlier this year. Authorities reportedly recovered the material in February 2025.

Coote, from Collingham, was granted conditional bail and ordered to return to court for sentencing on December 11.

“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter. Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court, which is why I have ordered a pre-sentence report,” Judge Shant told him.

The former top-flight referee was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 after a video of comments he made about then Liverpool F.C. manager Jürgen Klopp in 2020 surfaced.

In August 2025, he was also handed an eight-week suspension by The Football Association over the same footage.

Coote now faces sentencing later this year following his guilty plea to the child indecency offence.