Former Premier League Referee David Coote Admits Child Sex Offence
Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to creating an indecent image of a child, classified as a Category A offence, the most serious under UK law.
The 43-year-old appeared before Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, dressed in a navy suit and black tie. He spoke briefly to confirm his identity and enter his guilty plea during the six-minute hearing.
The charge stems from material recovered by police in February following an investigation. Judge Nirmal Shant granted Coote conditional bail and scheduled sentencing for December 11, pending a pre-sentence report to guide the court’s decision.
“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter,” the judge stated, emphasizing that the possibility of imprisonment remains under consideration until all relevant information is reviewed.
Coote, who was dismissed from his refereeing role last year, had previously faced controversy in 2020 after a video surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
This disturbing case underscores the ongoing global challenge of protecting children from exploitation and online abuse. Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), every child has the right to be protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Authorities and institutions must continue to strengthen enforcement, monitoring, and education to ensure children’s safety and uphold their fundamental rights to dignity and protection.
