Secret Life After Scandal: David Coote Trades Football for Delivery Work
"Former Premier League Referee, David Coote, adopts unexpected profession"
The fallen football referee, David Coote, is making a surprising turn in his career. After being booted (fired) from his role due to a series of controversial incidents, Coote is now working as a package deliverer for Evri. His new gig came to light when he was caught on camera by a Ring doorbell, drop-offing a parcel near his Newark, Nottinghamshire home.
Once a high-flying referee in the Premier League, Coote's career took a drastic turn when a barrage of damaging videos emerged in the public sphere. The biggest blows to his reputation were a video showing him hurling insults at former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, calling him an "arrogant German c-word,” and another video that allegedly depicted him snorting a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024.
Following an investigation, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) gave Coote the boot, ending his long-term association with the football world. The 42-year-old is now slated to serve a 16-month ban, keeping him away from the field until June 2026.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote expressed his desire to move on and take responsibility for his actions. “I'm just trying to make an honest living," he said, "I want to get on with my life. I'm trying to move forwards and regain a sense of responsibility and purpose." It seems his new job is keeping him busy and serving as a stepping stone towards rebuilding his life.
Interestingly, Coote recently ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to raise funds for his ailing uncle Mick, who’s battling motor neurone disease. Determined to focus on what truly matters, he emphasized, "I'm doing what I want to do, focusing on what's important like spending more time with friends and family."
Coote had spent six fruitful years as a Premier League referee before his downfall, taking charge of 112 top-flight matches following his debut in 2018. He also officiated the 2023 Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium. Despite his scandalous exit, Coote officially left the football world with the 2014 League One final under his belt, having been the referee in charge of that game earlier in his career.
- Despite his current job as a package deliverer, Coote's previous role was as a Premier League referee, where he officiated 112 top-flight matches.
- The Premier League isn't the only sports league Coote has worked in, as he also refereed the 2023 Carabao Cup final in the Champions League.
- Following his controversial exit from the football world, Coote has been banned for 16 months, preventing him from returning to sports until June 2026.
- In a surprising twist, Coote has shown a desire to return to sports, not as a referee, but as a sports analyst, focusing on football and sports-related discussions.
