Former Premier League referee David Coote could face up to five years behind bars after admitting to creating an indecent image of a child.
The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday following charges brought last month by Nottinghamshire Police. Coote initially denied the charge when he first appeared in court in August but has now changed his plea.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC granted him conditional bail and ordered him to return to court on December 11. The former top-flight and FIFA official was informed by the judge that a pre-sentence report would be compiled ahead of his sentencing.
She stated: “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.”
The charge to which Coote has admitted guilt carries a maximum five-year jail term under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which stipulates that five years’ imprisonment can be imposed for possessing indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children.
The offence can nevertheless result in penalties ranging from community service to a three-year prison term. Last December, Coote was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after footage emerged of remarks he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020.
The footage remained unverified, however during the FA investigation, Coote confirmed that the clip had been filmed in his lounge during June 2020. Throughout the inquiry, Coote maintained that his remarks did not represent his genuine sentiments towards the former Liverpool manager, insisting he possessed “deep professional respect” for him.
The ex-referee also issued a personal apology to Klopp.
The PGMOL announced they had severed Coote’s employment contract in December, confirming that an extensive investigation had determined he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.
Coote initially officiated his first Premier League fixture in 2018 and progressed to become an elite referee, taking charge of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup final triumph against Newcastle United in 2023.
The 43-year-old’s final top-flight assignment came in November 2024 when Liverpool defeated Aston Villa 2-0. This match marked the end of his refereeing career after the footage showing Coote criticising the Anfield legend surfaced across social media platforms.