London, England – Former Premier League referee David Coote has revealed that he hid his sexuality throughout his career due to fears of homophobic abuse.
Coote, 42, who officiated over 100 top-flight matches, stated that the pressures of his job contributed to the behavior that led to his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote explained, “I’m gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being ‘me’ over a long period of time. I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”
Coote also issued a separate statement apologizing for the conduct that resulted in his sacking, saying, “This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions, which fell way below what was expected of me.”
