David Coote has been seen in a surprise new role after losing his job as a Premier League referee in December.
The 42-year-old was initially suspended in November and then fired by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after leaked videos put the official at the centre of controversy.
In one clip he was seen insulting former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and in another he was snorting white powder.
PGMOL confirmed that ‘Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.’
He was also hit with a 16-month UEFA ban in February for breaching ‘the basic rules of decent conduct’ and bringing ‘the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute’.
With his officiating career in tatters, Coote has returned to work in a very different capacity.
The Sun revealed in images from a couple’s Ring doorbell that Coote is now delivering parcels for Evri near his home in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Explaining his new job, Coote said: ‘I’m just trying to make an honest living. I want to get on with my life. I’m trying to move forwards and regain a sense of responsibility and purpose. The job is keeping me busy and occupied, it’s not a new long-term career.
‘I’m doing what I want to do, focusing on what’s important like spending more time with friends and family.’
Coote, who refereed over 100 Premier League games, spoke out in January after being at the centre of the scandal.
In an emotional interview he came out as gay and explained that he had used cocaine during his career as an ‘escape’ to the pressures of his job.
‘It’s not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,’ an emotional Coote told The Sun.
‘I’ve had long periods where I’ve not used it — but it was one of the escape routes I had.
‘Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.
‘I don’t recognise myself in the cocaine video. I can’t resonate with how I felt then, but that was me.
‘I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. And so I found myself in that position – escaping.’
PGMOL statement on David Coote
‘Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote’s conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.
‘David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.
‘Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.
‘David Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.’
Coote explained that struggling to accept his sexuality contributed to his drug use having had a ‘deep sense of shame’ since his teenage years.
‘I didn’t come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn’t come out to my friends until I was 25,’ he said.
‘My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay, and that I’ve had real struggles dealing with hiding that.
‘I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.
‘I put on this hard exterior. Football became a place where I could go and referee and be engrossed in the game.
‘But then I’d come home and it would be more difficult because I’m living a double sense of being.
‘To other people who are in my situation, I’d say seek help and talk to somebody because if you bottle it up like I have done it has to come out in some way.’
What did David Coote say about Jurgen Klopp?
In a leaked video, Coote was asked what he thinks of Jurgen Klopp and replies: ‘C**t. Absolute c**t.’
The referee continued: ‘Aside from having a right pop at me when I refereed them against Burnley in lockdown, then he accused me of lying and then just had a right f****g pop at me.
‘I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f*****g arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. Milner’s alright. Get on with Milner.
‘My God. German c**t. F**k me.’
He later said of the comments: ‘I want to apologise to anybody who I’ve offended by my actions.
‘I recognise that they fell well short of standards that are expected of a top level referee and I deeply regret saying what I said.’