Former Premier League referee David Coote, aged 43, from Collingham, has been formally charged with making an indecent image of a child, with his first court appearance scheduled for September 11, 2025, at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

Coote was charged after police recovered a video related to the case in February, and he is currently on conditional bail.

In response to the allegations, UEFA appointed an ethics investigator and has banned Coote from officiating until June 30, 2026.

Coote's career in the Premier League spanned from 2018 to 2024, during which he officiated over 100 top-flight games before his career ended amid controversy.

Earlier this year, in January 2025, Coote publicly came out as gay, revealing that struggles with his sexuality and past substance abuse contributed to his previous controversial behavior, including derogatory comments about Jurgen Klopp and drug use.

Coote's spokesperson has declined to comment on the latest charges or the ongoing investigation.

He was previously dismissed by PGMOL in December 2024 after a video surfaced showing him making abusive comments about Jurgen Klopp from 2020, and he was banned by UEFA until June 30, 2026, following a video of him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024.

In August 2025, Coote received an eight-week suspension from the Football Association for breaching conduct rules related to comments about Klopp, and he was mandated to undergo face-to-face education.

The child abuse charge against Coote is classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, involving acts of rape or sexual abuse of a young child.

Investigations also examined a second video from Euro 2024 showing Coote snorting a white powder, which contributed to his suspension and ban.

Authorities have provided contact information for support services for individuals affected by abuse or related issues.

This case marks another difficult chapter in Coote's turbulent career and personal life, with the court's decision pending.