David Harry Coote (born 11 July 1982 in Nottingham, England) is a former English football referee who officiated at the highest levels of the English game.

Refereeing Career
Coote began refereeing as a teenager and worked his way up through local and semi-professional leagues before joining the Football Conference and then the English Football League as a referee in 2010.
He officiated his first Premier League match on 28 April 2018, taking charge of Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion after promotion to the elite Select Group of Referees.
During his career at the top level he took charge of over 100 Premier League games and was appointed to major fixtures — including the 2023 EFL Cup final at Wembley between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Internationally, he was FIFA-listed as a referee from 2020 to 2022.
Controversies and Dismissal

Coote’s career ended amid multiple high-profile controversies:

In late 2024, a private video emerged in which he was heard making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp, leading to his suspension and eventual dismissal by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for serious breaches of conduct.
Separate footage also circulated showing him using drugs while on duty at Euro 2024, further damaging his professional standing.
The Football Association (FA) imposed an eight-week suspension and education programme over his comments, and UEFA banned him from officiating until June 2026 for bringing the sport into disrepute.
Legal Issues
In 2025–26, Coote was charged and later pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child — a Category A offence — related to a video found on his laptop.
He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a nine-month prison term suspended for two years, along with a sexual harm prevention order and community requirements.
Personal Life
Coote is the son of David Coote, a former professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire.
In early 2025, he publicly came out as gay, stating that hiding his sexuality during his refereeing career had contributed to personal struggles and poor decisions.