The video, which showed a 15-year-old boy in a school uniform, was found on a device recovered by police in February last year.

Coote, from Woodhill, Collingham, Nottinghamshire, admitted a charge of making an indecent image of a child in relation to the category A video, the most serious kind, at Nottingham Crown Court in October.

The 43-year-old returned to the same court on Thursday and was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order lasting 10 years.

The court heard analysis of Coote’s devices showed his Dell laptop had been connected to the hard drive and had made – in the sense of being downloaded and viewed on the screen – a category A moving image, which lasted two minutes and 11 seconds, on 2 January 2020.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Coote: “Those who commit this sort of offence must realise they involve a real child and that causes them damage.”

The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving photos or videos containing abuse.

The video came to the police’s attention when Coote was being investigated by the Football Association (FA), and a number of devices were seized and analysed when he was arrested at his home, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told in September.

He admitted the offence the following month, after initially pleading not guilty.

Defending Coote, Laura Miller said his actions on 2 January 2020 did not reflect him as a person, adding he was going through an “internal struggle” following the breakdown of a relationship.

She added he had faced a period of media scrutiny, to which the judge responded: “Some might say he has brought it on himself.”

Ms Miller told the court six years had passed since the offence and Coote, who is now working in an administrative job, was trying to “rebuild his life step by step”.

‘Spectacular fall from grace’

She said: “His life is a far cry from where it was at the height of his career, he knows he will never get that back.”

Coote was also cautioned for possession of cocaine after police visited his home, the court heard.

Addressing him ahead of sentencing, Judge Shant told Coote he had “had a spectacular fall from grace”.

Coote was sacked in 2024 when comments made in a video about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light.

In August last year, he was given an eight-week suspension by the FA over the Klopp footage.

In addition, the ex-official is also banned by European football’s governing body Uefa until 30 June this year after photographs emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.

Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun in January 2025 and said a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence and sexual harm prevention order, Coote was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

The judge added: “If you breach this order in any way, if there are any further offences – particularly sexual offences – you will be subject to being brought back to court.”

The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court over an allegation relating to a category A video, the most serious kind, recovered by police in February.

Coote, from Woodhill Road, Collingham, Nottinghamshire, was granted conditional bail ahead of an appearance on 11 December.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC ordered a pre-sentence report and said: “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.”

The court heard Coote extracted the video from a hard drive to a laptop on 2 January 2020.

He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge at a hearing on 10 September at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

At the six-minute hearing on Tuesday, Coote, who wore a navy suit and black tie, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea.

The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving photos or videos containing abuse.

Judge Shant KC said: “You must not go away with the impression that this will not lead to a custodial sentence.”

Coote was sacked last year when comments made in a video about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light.

In August this year, he was given an eight-week suspension by the Football Association over the Klopp footage.

In January, Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun and said a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp.

The 43-year-old, who was sacked last year over comments made in a video about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, was charged following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.

The force said the charge related to a video file recovered by officers in February.

Mr Coote, from Collingham in Nottinghamshire, was charged on 12 August and is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.’

He was sacked by referees’ body the PGMOL in December 2024 following an investigation into a video allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager.

The Football Association (FA) also imposed an eight-week suspension in August over the comments.

In addition, the ex-official is also banned by European football’s governing body Uefa until 30 June 2026 after photographs emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.

Police said Mr Coote was currently on conditional bail.

The force added the charge of making an indecent photograph related to acts such as downloading, sharing and saving material.

Coote, who was sacked by the Premier League in December 2024, has been further sanctioned by the FA for an “aggravated breach” of rule E3.2, because of the reference he made to Klopp’s nationality in the video.

The clip, which was filmed around July 2020, was leaked online in November 2024.

Coote admitted the charge.

The FA’s written reasons for the verdict said Coote expressed “deep remorse” and acknowledged his comments were “crass and inappropriate”.

As well as his suspension, Coote must undergo a mandatory face-to-face education programme.

The 42-year-old was initially suspended in November 2024 when the online clip showed him making derogatory comments about Klopp and Liverpool.

He was sacked a month later by Premier League referees’ body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following an investigation into his conduct.

Coote was also banned in February by Uefa from officiating in European competition until 30 June 2026.

A video – separate to the one in which he made reference to Klopp’s nationality – emerged in November of Coote sniffing a white powder when he was on duty at Euro 2024, which is organised by Uefa.

He revealed in January that he was gay, and had hidden his sexuality during his professional career through fear of abuse.

Coote, who did not attend the hearing, said he thought he was speaking in a “private” setting when he made the comments about Klopp and Liverpool.

In June, Coote was cleared of any gambling misconduct following claims that he discussed issuing a yellow card to a player prior to a match.

However, Coote accepted that the video in which he made remarks about Klopp, which was filmed after the UK emerged from the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, was “likely to cause hurt and reputational damage” once it entered the public domain.

He said the pandemic and the years since had significantly impacted his mental health.

The 42-year-old was suspended in November 2024 after the clip showed him making derogatory comments about the German and Liverpool.

Coote was sacked a month later by the Premier League referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a “thorough investigation” into his conduct.

The FA has now charged Coote in relation to rule E3.1, which alleges he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words.

It says reference to Klopp’s nationality in the video constituted an “aggravated” breach.

However, Coote has been cleared of any gambling misconduct following claims that the referee had discussed issuing a yellow card to a player prior to a match.

Coote, from Nottinghamshire, had denied the gambling misconduct claims, saying the allegation was “false and defamatory”.

In February, Coote was banned by Uefa from officiating in European competition until 30 June 2026.

A video of Coote sniffing a white powder when he was on duty at Euro 2024, which is organised by Uefa, emerged in November.

Coote revealed in January that he was gay, and had hid his sexuality during his professional career through fear of abuse.

He admitted to the Sun newspaper that he had developed a drug habit, but had overcome that through therapy.

Coote, 42, said the pressure of his work contributed to the behaviour that led to his sacking by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.

Speaking to the Sun in an interview published on Monday night he said: “I’m gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time.

“I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”

Coote, who officiated more than 100 top-flight games, gave his first interview to the Sun, the newspaper which led the reporting of his misconduct.

In a separate statement issued late on Monday, he apologised for the behaviour that led to his sacking, saying: “This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me.

“I am truly sorry for any offence caused by my actions and for the negative spotlight it put on the game that I love. I hope people will understand that they were private moments taken during very low times in my life. They do not reflect who I am today or what I think.”

Speaking about his sexuality to the Sun, Coote said he felt a “deep sense of shame” during his teenage years and told his parents when he was 21 and his friends when he was 25.

“My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position,” he said. “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,” he said. “And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”

He has spoken as police investigate “threats and abuse” directed at referee Michael Oliver following Arsenal’s game against Wolves on Saturday.

Coote revealed that he received death threats during his career, with some also made towards his late mother.

He also said he needed to have an accelerated response tag fitted at his home address so he could speak to police in an emergency.

‘I don’t recognise myself in video’

Coote was initially suspended by the PGMOL on 11 November after a video emerged on social media of him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager Jurgen Klopp.

He now says he apologises “to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions” and that he “was not sober” at the time the video was recorded.

On 13 November, the Sun published photos it says were taken during last year’s European Championship, alleging that they appeared to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.

His conduct is under investigation by the Football Association and European football’s governing body Uefa.

Coote told the Sun he has been in an “incredibly dark place” since the photographs of him at the Euros were published and he was “not sure I’d here today” without the support of family and colleagues.

On 27 November, the FA opened a new investigation following an allegation that Coote had discussed giving a yellow card before a Championship match between Leeds and West Brom in 2019. He has always denied these allegations.

Discussing the events that led up to his sacking, he says his mum died suddenly in 2023 and at the same time his uncle was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

In the 2023-24 season, he says he officiated more than 90 games around the world, followed by the European Championship and then the Olympics, and struggled with the pressure and stress of his work, adding: “The physical and psychological demands on match officials is really significant.

“I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me. I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping.”

Coote told the Sun he is over his drug habit after having therapy and felt “a huge sense of shame” for what happened.

“I’m guilty of doing what I did, but I’m trying to be the best person that I can be now. I’ve taken steps to try and be the best I can be both from a physical and a mental wellbeing [perspective],” he added.

“To other people who are in my situation, I’d say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done, it has to come out in some way.”

BBC Sport has contacted the PGMOL for comment.

Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL (the Professional Game Match Officials Limited) on 11 November pending a full investigation after a video allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager Jurgen Klopp was circulated on social media.

A further investigation was opened two days later after the Sun published photos it says were taken during this summer’s European Championship, alleging that they appear to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.

The PGMOL said Coote’s actions made his position “untenable”.

Neither the pictures nor the video have been verified independently by the BBC.

“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.”

Coote has the right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.

How did we get here?

The PGMOL first took action against Coote on 11 November following the release of a video on social media, which allegedly showed him criticising Liverpool and their former manager Klopp.

The video appeared to refer a Premier League match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which finished 1-1.

Klopp criticised Coote after the game, saying the referee failed to give fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players.

The FA opened an investigation the following day.

On 13 November, the PGMOL said it was taking further allegations “very seriously” following the publication of images showing appearing to show Coote sniffing a white powder.

Coote was working at the Euros in his capacity as a match official and Uefa, European football’s governing body, also suspended Coote as it launched its own investigation.

On 27 November, the FA opened a new investigation following an allegation that Coote had discussed giving a yellow card before a Championship match between Leeds and West Brom in 2019.

A report in the Sun claimed Coote exchanged messages with a fan discussing giving a yellow card before and after the game.

Coote denied any wrongdoing and said the allegation was “false and defamatory”.

The contents of the report have not been verified by the BBC

The exchange referred to a booking Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski received in the match from Coote. There is no suggestion of any financial gain by Coote and the booking is regarded as entirely correct.

What are Coote’s refereeing stats?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jurgen Klopp remonstrated with referee David Coote after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Burnley in July 2020

Coote was appointed as a Premier League referee for the first time in April 2018 when West Brom won 1-0 at Newcastle.

He oversaw 11 games in the top flight during 2018-19 and has gone on to referee 112 Premier League games, including three Liverpool fixtures.

• July 2020 – 1-1 draw with Burnley at Anfield
• March 2024 – 2-1 win against Brighton at Anfield
• November 2024 – 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield

Coote has refereed Liverpool on a further five occasions in cup games.

As one of the PGMOL’s most highly-rated video assistant referees (VAR), Coote has been the VAR for 64 Premier League matches, 11 of which have involved Liverpool, the first of which was in September 2019.

In October 2020, Coote was the VAR when Liverpool drew 2-2 with Everton and Klopp complained about the decision not to send off Jordan Pickford for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk, as well as a stoppage-time goal from Jordan Henderson being disallowed for offside.

Liverpool asked the Premier League to review those two VAR decisions.

Coote was then not appointed as the VAR of a Liverpool Premier League match until September 2023, the first of seven Liverpool Premier League matches as VAR last season.

Coote, 42, says he denies the new claims and calls them “false and defamatory allegations”.

The referee is already under investigation by the FA and has been suspended by refereeing body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and European football’s governing body Uefa following separate allegations about his conduct.

A new report in the Sun newspaper on Tuesday claimed Coote exchanged messages with a fan discussing giving a yellow card before and after a game between Leeds and West Brom in 2019.

The exchange refers to a booking Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski received in the match from Coote. There is no suggestion of any financial gain by Coote and the booking is regarded as entirely correct.

The contents of the report have not been verified by the BBC.

“I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations,” Coote said in a statement.

“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.

“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

Coote is one of the Premier League’s most experienced officials and has been refereeing matches in the top flight since 2018.

The FA told the BBC: “These are very serious allegations and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.”

The PGMOL said it takes a “zero-tolerance approach” to any breach of its code of conduct.

“The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations,” it added.

“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our integrity code of conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.

“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that code be proven.

“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by the FA.”

Coote was initially suspended by the PGMOL on 11 November pending a full investigation after a video emerged that appears to show him make disparaging remarks about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – the FA started an investigation on 12 November.

On 13 November, the Sun published photos it says were taken during this summer’s European Championship, alleging that they appear to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.

Coote was working at the Euros in his capacity as a match official.

The PGMOL said it was taking those allegations “very seriously” and launched an investigation.

Uefa, European football’s governing body, has also launched its own investigation and suspended Coote.

Neither the pictures nor the video have been verified independently by the BBC.

Last week, the PGMOL said Coote’s welfare is “important to us” as its investigation into his conduct continues.

Refereeing body PGMOL says the suspension comes into force with immediate effect and is pending a full investigation.

The video, widely shared on social media, has not been verified by the BBC. It is unclear when it was filmed or its authenticity.

Coote, 42, refereed Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday. He is one of the Premier League’s most-experienced officials and has been refereeing matches in the top flight since 2018.

The video being shared appears to refer to a Premier League match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which finished 1-1.

Klopp criticised Coote after the match, saying the referee failed to give fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players.

Referees are required to inform PGMOL of the club they support.

Coote, from Nottingham, is registered as a Notts County fan and is therefore unable to officiate County or Nottingham Forest matches.

PGMOL says it will not be making further comment on the case until its investigation is completed.