Off The Pitch Gossips
Disgraced ex-Premier League referee charged over ‘Category A’ child video
Last Updated on 10 September 2025
A shocking new chapter has unfolded in the career of a former Premier League official, who was sacked in December 2024.
David Coote, once a familiar name in the Premier League, now faces a Category A charge, according to The Sun.
The charge comes after he’s been accused of making an indecent video involving a child. It’s a grim allegation standing in stark contrast to his former status as a respected referee.
Category A charge leaves David Coote’s reputation in tatters
Category A is the most serious type of offence under the Crown Prosecution Services. It refers to material involving children in the most severe circumstances, often depicting direct exploitation by adults.
While details of Coote’s case are yet to be disclosed, the categorisation alone underlines the seriousness of the charge and has cast a dark shadow over his career and reputation.
The first hearing of the charge is expected on Thursday, the 11th of September, 2025 at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, as per The Sun.
Coote refereed more than a 100 top flight fixtures and was also in the official refereeing team during the Euro 2024 in Germany.
David Coote’s beef with Jurgen Klopp that ended his top-flight career
Less than a year ago, Coote was fired by the PGMOL. That happened in light of a leaked video of the referee ranting about ex-Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp.
According to ESPN, Coote called the German manager ‘arrogant’, among many other things in a profanity-filled tirade.
A new video was leaked, a few days later, as covered by ESPN. This time Coote was caught allegedly taking prohibited substances while on duty during the Euro 2024.
The ex-ref came under a lot of fire for a number of decisions against Liverpool. Majorly for his role in not awarding Jordan Pickford with a red card in the Merseyside derby in 2020.
Coote was on VAR duty when Pickford’s reckless foul ended Virgil van Dijk’s season with an ACL injury.
Jurgen Klopp, the then-Liverpool manager was incensed with the decision.
As expected, PGMOL sacked the Nottingham-born referee.
