David Coote Shares His Struggle: “Coming Out as Gay Was a Long and Challenging Journey”
David Coote, the Premier League referee, recently opened up about his experience coming out as gay, describing it as a difficult and long journey filled with shame, especially during his teenage years.
“I carried a deep sense of shame, particularly in my adolescence,” Coote admitted.
He shared that he didn’t come out to his parents until he was 21 and kept his sexuality hidden from friends until he was 25. “My sexuality wasn’t the sole reason for the difficulties I faced, but not being open about it caused me significant struggles.”
Coote reflected on how, as a young referee, he concealed his emotions and identity, a habit that helped on the field but led to self-esteem issues in his personal life. He acknowledged that it took years for him to feel proud of who he was. “On top of the abuse I faced as a referee, the idea of revealing my sexuality seemed overwhelming.”
He expressed concern about the ongoing discrimination in football and society, adding, “I didn’t want to be the one to face even more abuse, especially with the criticism referees already endure.”
Coote’s personal journey is further complicated by his recent dismissal from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a video leak in November, in which he made derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
The incident led to Coote being suspended and later dismissed in December after an investigation into breaches of his contract.
