Referee David Coote banned by UEFA until next June
It's after he was caught making disparaging remarks about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
UEFA has banned disgraced ex-Premier League referee David Coote from any officiating activity until June 2026.
Coote was sacked by Premier League Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December, having suspended him the previous month, after a video showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club's former manager Jurgen Klopp was circulated on social media.
A separate video subsequently showed Coote snorting white powder, reportedly during Euro 2024, and PGMOL said the official was in serious breach of his employment contract and his actions made his position "untenable".
European football's control, ethics and disciplinary body met last week and ruled Coote had violated the basic rules of decent conduct and brought football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.
In a January interview Coote came out as gay and said his struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to him making bad choices, such as the video about Liverpool and his use of drugs.
"I've had issues around my self-esteem - and that relates to my sexuality," he told The S*n.
"I don't recognise myself in the cocaine video. I've had long periods where I've not used it - but it was one of the escape routes I had. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route."