Former Premier League referee David Coote reveals his struggle with sexuality and personal demons, speaking out for the first time since his controversial dismissal over comments about Jurgen Klopp.
Fired Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay, and said he hid his sexuality over fears of abuse from football fans. Photo: Adrian Dennis/ AFP referee David Coote says he hid his sexuality over fears of the abuse he would receive for being gay, apologising for the actions that led to his sacking.
He added:"I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well — a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that's led me to a whole course of behaviours." "Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route."
Coote's contract was terminated by the PGMOL in December following its investigation into the initial video, in which he used offensive language about Klopp.Former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger came out in 2014 after his career ended but there has not been an active out gay footballer playing in the Premier League.
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