David Coote sentencing adjourned until January
Former Premier League referee David Coote will have to wait until the new year to learn his fate after his sentencing was adjourned from today until 8 January, reports BritPanorama.
The 43-year-old, who resides in Collingham near Newark, Nottinghamshire, admitted in October to making an indecent image of a child. The charge relates to a category A video — the most serious classification — which was discovered by police on his device.
Coote’s legal representative was unable to attend Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday due to medical reasons, prompting the postponement of proceedings that had been scheduled for this morning. Judge Nirmal Shant KC declined to conduct the sentencing hearing without Coote’s barrister present, stating she was “simply not prepared” to proceed with such a significant matter via video link.
Coote himself was absent from the brief court appearance, which lasted merely three minutes before the case was rescheduled. Initially, he had denied the charge when he appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court in September. However, he changed his plea to guilty at a subsequent hearing at the Crown Court on 14 October.
The former referee had been charged on 12 August, with the alleged offence dating back to 2 January 2020. The indecent material came to light following an inquiry by the Football Association into Coote’s conduct. When officers arrested him at his home, they seized and analysed multiple devices, uncovering the video file in question.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that their inquiry related to material recovered during a search conducted in February 2025. The legal term “making” an indecent image includes activities such as downloading, sharing, or saving abusive photographs or videos. At his October hearing, Coote was warned that imprisonment remained a possibility given the severity of the offence. “You mustn’t go away with the impression this means a non-custodial sentence — it doesn’t,” Judge Shant cautioned him.
Coote was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 after footage emerged appearing to show him making disparaging remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. The video, reportedly filmed in 2020, led to an eight-week suspension from the Football Association in August this year. Additionally, UEFA has banned the former official over separate footage allegedly showing him inhaling white powder whilst on duty during Euro 2024.
Currently, Coote remains on conditional bail ahead of his January sentencing, with strict terms prohibiting any unsupervised contact with individuals under 18. He is also forbidden from residing at any property where a minor lives.
This case marks a significant chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of officials in sports, reflecting both the delicate balance of authority and accountability in the game. How a once-celebrated figure has faced such downfall serves as a stark reminder that few, regardless of past standing, are immune from the consequences of their actions.
