Disgraced ex-referee Davide Coote pleads not guilty to charge of making indecent video of child after appearing in court

The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on September 11, confirming his full name and address, as reported by the Mirror. After entering a not guilty plea, he was granted conditional bail. He was told: "You will next appear at Nottingham Crown Court on October 9 for a plea and case management hearing.”

Coote stands accused of having made one indecent video of a child of category A on January 2, 2020 - which is the most serious category as it typically relates to young children being sexually abused by adults.

District Judge Gilliam Young handed Coote bail conditions that stipulate he must have no contact with any child under the age of 18 or reside at an address where a person under the age of 18 is present.

Prosecutor Ben Payne stated that police became involved in the case after an independent company examined two mobile phones and allegedly found "two conversations of concern". A laptop is also said to have been seized from the address where Coote was arrested - with the category A image being discovered on that device.

Coote was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) in December 2024 after a video emerged online showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. He was charged by the FA in June 2025 over those comments.

In February 2025, Coote was banned by UEFA following the release of a video that appeared to show him snorting a white powder at Euro 2024. He had come out as gay a month earlier.