Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent image of a child, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed.
Coote, 43, was charged on August 12 and is currently on conditional bail. He is scheduled to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The charge relates to activities such as downloading, sharing, or saving abusive images or videos of a child, authorities said. The alleged material was recovered by police in February.
Coote was sacked from his officiating role in December 2024 after a video surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during a 2020 match.
In a separate incident, UEFA banned Coote from officiating until June 2026 after a video emerged of him allegedly snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.
The referee, who officiated in England’s top-flight league for several years, has faced public scrutiny over multiple controversies in recent times.
In a January interview, Coote publicly came out as gay and acknowledged that hiding his sexuality had contributed to some of his poor decisions.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about safeguarding and conduct within professional sports officiating.
Authorities have urged the public to allow the legal process to proceed without speculation, emphasizing that Coote remains innocent until proven guilty.
The court appearance on Thursday will provide the next update in the ongoing legal proceedings.
