David Coote has been banned from officiating UEFA games until June 2026 after being caught snorting cocaine during Euro 2024. Following derogatory remarks made against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp in a prior video, he was sacked by the Premier League's refereeing body. Coote attributed his actions to the stress of concealing his homosexuality, stating it contributed to a range of personal struggles. A UEFA disciplinary release condemned his behavior for bringing disrepute to football and confirmed a 16-month ban. Despite his actions, Coote received some backing from former colleagues in the refereeing community.
"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."
"I recognize that [my remarks] fell well short of standards that are expected of a top-level referee and I deeply regret saying what I said."
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