In a significant development concerning European soccer officiating, UEFA announced on Friday that English referee David Coote has been barred from all UEFA refereeing activities until June 30, 2026. This decision comes following Coote’s dismissal from the English refereeing body due to inappropriate conduct.
Coote’s dismissal was prompted by a video that surfaced online showing him making derogatory remarks about Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager. This incident resulted in Coote’s dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
Adding to the controversy, another video emerged suggesting Coote’s involvement in inappropriate behavior during last year’s European Championship. This led to a UEFA investigation regarding the incident, further putting Coote’s professional career under scrutiny.
UEFA’s control, ethics, and disciplinary body has concluded that Coote violated the essential norms of appropriate behavior. They deemed his actions as bringing disrepute to the sport of football and to UEFA specifically. Consequently, he has been banned from participating in any UEFA refereeing duties for a period extending to mid-2026.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) had already suspended Coote in November when the initial video surfaced. Following an internal investigation completed in December, PGMOL released a statement confirming that Coote’s employment had been terminated immediately.
The refereeing organization stated that Coote’s conduct was incompatible with the terms of his employment contract and deemed his role as unsustainable within the organization.
