David Coote, the former Premier League referee sacked after making derogatory comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has come out publicly as being gay and said that hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.

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Former Premier League referee David Coote has apologised for the actions that led to his sacking last month by English soccer's referees' body PGMOL, saying that the pressure of the job and fear of abuse due to his sexuality triggered his behaviour.

I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref,” he said. “And to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”

David Coote has come out as gay in his first interview since his dismissal as a Premier League referee last month, with the official opening up about his sexuality

David Coote “deserves” to have a continued role in English football, the chairman of the Referees’ Association has said.

David Coote, a former Premier League referee, has apologized after being sacked due to a video showing him allegedly abusing Liverpool. Struggling with pressures of his role and his sexuality, Coote turned to drugs.

Disgraced former Premier League 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

Disgraced former Premier League referee David Coote says a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality contributed to “shameful” decisions which led to his sacking last year. Coote was in October initially suspended by the referees’ body,

David Coote was sacked by the PGMOL in December after controversial videos of the ex-Premier League referee went viral, but he has revealed his plans to remain on TV screens