D. Coote avoided prison.

2026-01-08 15:22 © zumapress

Former English Premier League referee David Coote has been found guilty of possessing "indecent images of children" but avoided prison.

Mr. Coote's problems began in 2024 when a video emerged online of him, allegedly intoxicated, using obscene language to insult then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Later, the former Premier League referee came under scrutiny when another video surfaced, in which he was allegedly seen using illegal substances.

However, these were not Mr. Coote's biggest issues. At the end of last year, he faced allegations of possessing sexual content involving children.

Despite the serious charges, Mr. Coote received a relatively lenient ruling in court on Thursday. The former referee admitted his guilt, and the court sentenced him to a nine-month suspended prison sentence, meaning he is likely to avoid actual imprisonment.

According to BBC sources, the video possessed by Mr. Coote featured a 15-year-old boy in a school uniform.

It's worth noting that Mr. Coote recently acknowledged that he is homosexual.