David Coot.
Coote was fired by PGMOL in December as he was “in serious violation of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position considered unworthy”.
There was an investigation into a video that showed Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The video was widely circulated on social media in November.
The PGMOL investigation also included a second video that appeared in November, appearing to show Coote allegedly snoring a white powder, apparently during the Euro 2024, where he was one of the tournaments. The European football management body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to consider the issue.
Coote rejected a claim He discussed giving a yellow card before Leeds’ match against West Brom in October 2019. The FA is investigating the claim.
Questioned by Sky Sports News’ Mark Mcadam How was it to be at the center of the tabloid stories, Coote said: “Hardly than I can say. In the first cases, it was a real shock and then as things gathered the pace in terms of other stories that They came to light, it was really, really difficult.
“At that moment and in those first days, they were really dark because I felt ashamed and ashamed with what I did over time and yes, it was really, really tough. The situation in which I found myself meant that I really had to rely on people’s support to overcome me.
“Otherwise, indeed, I don’t know I would be here.”
During the interview with Sky Sports NewsCoote reflects in his contemptuous comments to Klopp if his drug use influenced his formalization and how he is trying to rebuild his life …
David, thank you very much for taking time to talk. You have just given your most open, honest and detective interview that you would probably have ever done in your life. So, first of all, how are you?
I’m okay. Yes, I’m very sure I’m okay. It’s been a few weeks really challenging and then this undoubtedly made me do the interview that has been released and what has given me the opportunity to do is offer a context and let my story and let me see me Many as a man than a judge and that has been really important.
Why now? Why was it now the right time for you to open on so many levels for what is happening?
A couple of reasons. First, from a personal perspective, I felt it was really important to set the record straight to say how much I regret my actions. I wanted to take ownership of what I did and I wanted to have the opportunity to apologize from those I offended and to say that I regret the many things I did.
And then from a second point of view, I want to try to make a difference. I have a very unique opportunity to speak on behalf of judges who do not have the same opportunities I have now received in terms of working difficulties. I have the opportunity to talk about how difficult it has been for me personally from a self -esteem perspective, from understanding myself and understanding my sexuality and what it means to me and what it meant to me and the impact I had over me.
How is it for you who are at the center of a great tabloid story?
Harder than I can say. In the first cases, it was a real shock, and then as things raised the pace in terms of other stories that came to light, it was really difficult.
At that moment and in those first days, they were really dark because I felt ashamed and ashamed of what I did over time and yes, it was really difficult. The situation in which I found myself meant that I really had to rely on supporting people to overcome me.
Otherwise, indeed, I don’t know I would be here.
You talk about not being here. What do you mean by that?
In that first week, I had suicidal thoughts and did not approach to act with them, but at that time, it was really difficult and many people spoke to me and reached me frequently, daily because they were Concerned about my well -being for which I was grateful to them.
Many things that I really repent or by doing or saying and everyone came to light in the space of a week or more, when in fact, many were during four or five years ago and in my head , I would put them in bed and put them on one side and I would forget that they even existed. To find themselves facing what they simply reigned some really difficult periods and some really difficult thoughts.
On November 11, the video was released in the public domain with you and a friend. I know you’ve talked a lot about that video. One thing mentioned was Jurgen Klopp’s nationality and this is one of the criticism of the video. This has not been addressed yet. Why isn’t it addressed?
I’m not very sure if I’m honest. I am more than happy to address it and what I said and keep is that I said things I didn’t say and this is the surname of using the place where Jurgen originated. It wasn’t something I would say and not something I feel. My grandmother on the side of my mum is German and I really regret to use, I regret everything I said, but especially regret to use those words.
You have to look back now and think about how it happened? How did I allow myself to register that way?
Of course, after all I paid a real price for that. I have taken responsibility for what from the beginning of course and understood the seriousness in the first place immediately after becoming aware of the video publication and to that extent I understood and accepted my destiny immediately, with PGMOL as well
I want to take ownership of my actions. I think that’s important. I want to apologize from those who are offended by what I said and offended, but now I want to try and live my life with the values ​​that are really and to the maximum of my ability moving forward and I want to try And to continue from what has been a really difficult time and I hope I am able to do so.
A number of videos appeared, one of those where you are using substances after a European game. For those people who say that your drug use influenced your ability to make clear and concise decisions during matches, big matches, what would be your answer to them?
I can understand why they can think that way. However, I want to explain that this was really personal to me. It was about my answers to cope with pressure and was after playing without an implication in my work.
I don’t condemn her for a case of course. I’m sorry I have taken those actions. I made really weak choices at the time. There were times when I saved in a place where I really don’t want to go back.
Can you understand how harmful it may have been for PGMOL and how much it could potentially damage the game?
To be effectively humiliated by those videos that appear, so the consequence of my personal reputation, for people near me who did not know that this is what I did, was really severe and I understand the damage that could have done reputation to a wider degree of course, but none of my colleagues was aware.
I don’t have the place of concealment and this is part of the reason why it was important to determine and go out and say my sexuality, to say I’m gay because I’m now living my life like me, as authentic version for me that doesn’t have Anna Hidden that I have to crush and has really felt like a great weight from my shoulders, great relief and feel in a much stronger place personally in its back even in the first few weeks.
I have used therapy for many years and has had some successes, but it has been in really moments and where things have reached the head or has not had an opportunity to use coping mechanisms in a healthy way that led me to Behavior that when I look now, I’m really very ashamed and that I definitely regret it but I don’t know it as me.
You are the center of this great storm in the world of football, people are talking about you, your main news, how was it like for you at home, being blocked, perhaps worrying about leaving home too? Can you give us an overview of those moments ‘I have to take that step, should I continue with my life?’
It was really difficult, I didn’t want to leave home because I felt that everyone would judge me. I felt that every way I watched people were watching me and thinking about what he did, why he did it, he leaves himself, he left other people, he let his colleagues, his friends, family his.
I went to Pazar and for the first time wherever I was looking at the supermarket I felt that everyone was watching or looking at me and judging me and I had a panic attack on one of the alleys and had to take a deep breath. I arrived at the crate and the woman in the crate then told me something really nice to me and hope you’re well, you seem to have had a hard time and I just became well done, I broke up with tears and thought this I I have to continue to go there now because if I just stay in my house, then this will only deteriorate.
So I decided that I had to go to the gym. I decided to the point that I would train and do half a marathon, that half marathon was changed to a marathon when I enrolled in the Rob Burrow Leeds marathon, but there was a reason for what my uncle was diagnosed with motor disease neuron And it was in the summer of 2023 at the time my mum passed away.
With what you went through, so many times I bet you want you could have reached your mother and just spoke to her and she could have only given you the support that maybe no one else could have done through some of Most difficult times of your life.
Yes, I have been to visit where her ashes are scattered and yes of course I do. My family has been great, but I miss my mother and you know anyone who has lost someone close to them, I think he will understand this.
But I feel like I let people sit down and I wish she was here to support me, but equally I am glad she was not seen what I have gone even because I am very ashamed of it.
Timeline: What led to Coote’s rest by Pgmol …
Saturday 9 November 2024: Coote Judges Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa.
Monday November 11: An unexpected video of Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp circulates on social media.
Monday November 11: Pgmol suspends Coote and begins an inquiry.
Tuesday 12 November: FA begins its inquiry into COOTA Video.
Tuesday 12 November: CHAPERATION OF THE REFERENCE Howard Webb says further Sky Sports ‘match officials’ Mic’d up He pgmol taking the “Very Seriously” incident.
Thursday November 14: Pgmol aware of the new video that appears to show Coote by snoring a white powder while reporting to work at Euro 2024.
Wednesday 27 November: FA investigating Coote charges discussed giving a yellow card in front of a game as reported by sun. Coote opposes the charges.
Monday 9 December: Coote was downloaded from PGMOL.
