Former Premier League judge David Coote has revealed that he struggles with his sexuality and the “ruthlessness” of the modern football calendar led him to use drugs.
Coote was downloaded In December after an independent investigation into his actions after the release of a video showing him calling him former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp “a German C ***”.
Officer from Nottingham opened for his internal quarrels in an interview with sun. “I felt a deep sense of shame during my teens in particular,” Coote revealed. “I didn't go to my parents until I was 21. I didn't go to my friends until the age of 25.
“My sexuality is not the only reason that made me be in that position. But I am not telling an authentic story if I am not saying I am homosexual, and that I have had real battles dealing with the concealment
“I hid my emotions as a new reflection and hid my sexuality too – a good quality as a judge, but a terrible quality as a human being. And that led me to a whole course of behavior.”
Coote added: “I have had issues about my self -esteem – and this has to do with my sexuality. I am gay and I have fought to feel proud to be 'I' for a long period of time.
“I have received deeply uncomfortable abuse throughout my career as Ref and add my sexuality to what would be really difficult. There is much to do all the football and more widely in society about discrimination.
“I didn't want to be the person who was heading on the parapet to be shot, given the abuse we all take as a judge in any case.”
A photo of Cote Snorating a white dust line was also published by sunwho accused him of holding “drug parties” during Euro 2024. The former official insisted that he was not “lean” on cocaine but admitted: “It was one of the ways of escape I had. Just leaving the stresses, the ruthlessness of the work. It fills me with a great sense of shame to say that e I took that road. “
“In 2023 I lost my mother very suddenly,” Coote described. “At the same time my uncle was diagnosed with motor neuron disease. After Covid and the presentation of VAR, six officials were suddenly needed for each game.
“I was chosen by FIFA for sub-17 years old World cup in Indonesia, as well as the euro and the Olympics last year. This meant that during the course of the 2023-24 season I was involved in more than 90 games – often again to return. At the end of last season I went directly to the euro and that was extremely pressured. I had another tour that was coming immediately – leaving for Paris for the Olympics. “
“I don't know myself in cocaine video,” Coote added, referring to Views of his criticism of Klopp. “I can't sound the way I felt then, but that was me. I was fighting with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – saving.
“I put on this hard exterior. Football became a place where I could go and not be bored in the game. But then I would go back home and it would be harder because I was living a double sense of being.
“For other people who are in my situation, I would say to seek help and talk to someone because if I roast it as I did it, it must come out in some way.”
Coote will now “spend some quality time with family and friends and take time to make sure I'm in the best place to move forward”.