I just think this is by far the worst way to come out. Everyone's instinct is to think he's using it to gain sympathy points regardless of whether what he's saying is true. In reality he's now associated his sexuality will now be associated with his coke habits. As you say, it's a shame.
David Coote allegations | Sacked
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
called it at the time. serious gay vibes coming off those videos and him being cock blind. “i’ll definitely get at least a blowie if i dish out some dirt.” if anything, liverpool should be punished for forcing a law abiding ref into those kind of statements, just to get a little suck action. i’d probably strip them of the title this year as a just punishment.
He should be knighted for calling Klopp a cnut
So can Liverpool start getting penalised reckless fouls again?
Thing is, what's his sexuality got to do with it anyway? Is he trying to do a Kevin Spacey or was he told to come out as someone hypothesised? What's really the issue is his conduct as ref.
He should have doubled downDidn’t even apologize to Klopp
I think he's telling his story and maybe trying to explain that part of the reason he felt the need to pander to whoever was egging him on was the low self esteem he has suffered with.
Liverpool fans are notorious for homophobic abuse. Indeed, their 'God' Robbie Fowler infamously gave Graeme le Saux such abuse during a match.
It does not excuse Coote's ranting (the Klopp is a cnut aside), but it does explain why he'd target Liverpool.
David Coote I think is now the first ever ref whose sexuality I am aware of.
Maybe David Elleray, that dude fecked goats for sure.
Maybe David Elleray, that dude fecked goats for sure.
Very sad that he's waited until he's been sacked to come out. I think most people probably worked out he was gay, but it's not relevant.
I see he had no issue with selling his story to a newspaper that has a long history of being homophobic and anti LGBT+
I see he had no issue with selling his story to a newspaper that has a long history of being homophobic and anti LGBT+
That's not how it works. The Sun approaches people and says "we're outing you, do you want to tell your version and get paid or shall we tell our version and you get feck all".
He's lost his job and they probably offered him a decent wedge.
Is this another classic case of someone confessing they are gay to The Sun after The Sun found out they were gay and told they had 48 hours to give their side of the story or they will out them? A la Stephen Gateley?
Sorry David, but nobody cares if you're gay as it's 2025 and not 1990.
Trying to blame his behavior is appalling to be honest. Liking people of the same gender does not make you act like a tool.
Trying to blame his behavior is appalling to be honest. Liking people of the same gender does not make you act like a tool.
What I understood from all of this is: if you verbally abuse referees, like Klopp did, you get most of the decisions your way. If you're silent and respectful and never say anything, like United do, you're being walked over and humiliated by said refs.
Oliver and Taylor especially have had a great time.
Oliver and Taylor especially have had a great time.
Elleray fecked 10s of thousands of man utd fans every time he reffed us
His sexuality has nothing to do with the sole reason he was fired being the comments about Klopp.
Should have apologised and in time everything would have been forgotten. Him coming out alongside the entire situation comes across as not being genuine but looking for sympathy.
Should have apologised and in time everything would have been forgotten. Him coming out alongside the entire situation comes across as not being genuine but looking for sympathy.
In fairness Sir Alex was exactly the same. Referees were terrified of him!
He has nothing to apologise for, Klopp is a complete and utter cnut and he always has been, I want justice for Coote.
It's quite sad that people clearly haven't read the articles where he explains that feeling like he had to hide his sexuality led him down pathways where he was doing things in order to, as he puts it, 'escape' from that reality. The comments in here are ironic as they speak about it being 2025 so sexuality isn't an issue but they way they've been written while completely lacking in empathy indicate exactly why it's still difficult for people who aren't straight / why people who aren't straight may still find it difficult to come out! Especially in the world of football.
When it comes to elite level men's football and peoples' sexual preferences it might as well still be 1990. There's a reason why nobody hardly ever feels comfortable coming out while their careers are still active and it's definitely not due to the lack of gay people in the industry. Also worth noting it's highly likely the Sun being the utter scumbags we all know them to be probably planned on outing him with or without his input so I could easily see that being just him trying to get his side of the story out there first.
It's by no means an excuse for acting like a cnut while high on cocaine but it is a good reminder that we're talking about human beings and everyone's battling their own demons one way or another.
Serious lack of empathy from your average person these days, classic ff.
People are still quite homophobic even if it's not as bad as the 90s.
It's the timing of it that's the issue.
If he'd come out a few years ago I think he'd have been commended for it, however now he's only doing it because he's been caught doing coke.
I agree that there's still a problem with homosexuality in football. It's why we don't have any openly gay footballers at the very top level.
Well said.
I suffered into my late 20s grappling with my sexuality, it wasn't until I accepted that it wasn't going to change that I started to not worry about other people's opinions and reactions.
I drank every weekend and dabbled with coke to not want to face my reality, internalized homophobia is awful.
My expectations of other people's reactions were way off the mark thankfully everyone was cool in reality.
It's easy to say that it is 2025 who cares, I'm guilty of thinking like that myself at times (even now) in my ignorance but everyone's journey to self-acceptance is different.
As others have said he probably only did so now as a newspaper was going to out him anyway so better to do so on his terms despite that being awful.
If society and the football world was better then perhaps he would have came out earlier and not done coke or the other things.
Glad you have been able to come to terms with everything as much as possible and hope you are okay in that journey now mate.
He deserves a knighthood, not the sack.
Just playing the victim card in order to gather some sympathy. And justify the use of mind altering substances.
Mediocre ref, doesn't come across as a nice person. Being better would have been more productive and relevant than his sexuality.
Of course, made a few bucks with an issue that would have come out anyways, and got to tell his side of the story.
But yes, there is always the person struggle of every person growing up, and you have to respect that, even if not agreeing with some of his decisions/behaviours.
Mediocre ref, doesn't come across as a nice person. Being better would have been more productive and relevant than his sexuality.
Of course, made a few bucks with an issue that would have come out anyways, and got to tell his side of the story.
But yes, there is always the person struggle of every person growing up, and you have to respect that, even if not agreeing with some of his decisions/behaviours.
Always surprises me this is news in 2025, but like has already been mentioned there is still tonnes of homophobic people around.
On a career perspective I guess that crosses Saudi out as a possible route back into officiating(?)
On a career perspective I guess that crosses Saudi out as a possible route back into officiating(?)
Good post.
'Kin hell
Giving the dippers a run for their money in the "it's a conspiracy" stakes
'Kin hell
Giving the dippers a run for their money in the "it's a conspiracy" stakes
Oliver is a made man
It's clever timing to come out at this point.
His sexuality has now become more of the talking point rather than what he did - and the narrative changes and suddenly he becomes more of a 'victim'. And any criticism of him - that was already happening and seen as perfectly valid given the circumstances - now becomes re-interpreted as homophobic.
Had he remained what people thought - a straight, white man - he'd have continued to have had no sympathy for his actions. The fact that he's now a homosexual man changes the narrative as he now falls into one of the demographics that will get much more public support and backing.
His sexuality has now become more of the talking point rather than what he did - and the narrative changes and suddenly he becomes more of a 'victim'. And any criticism of him - that was already happening and seen as perfectly valid given the circumstances - now becomes re-interpreted as homophobic.
Had he remained what people thought - a straight, white man - he'd have continued to have had no sympathy for his actions. The fact that he's now a homosexual man changes the narrative as he now falls into one of the demographics that will get much more public support and backing.
Could be 1890 at all levels of football if we're being really honest.
Maybe people have read the articles but don't necessarily buy the reasoning and think it's the common trick of a person trying to deflect blame elsewhere and away from them?
Regardless of the gender, race, sexual orientation or politics of people - many from all demographics have a tendency to try and deflect blame from themselves, or use the reasoning / excuses that they think will generate more support and sympathy.
While that's widely recognised when used by people of some demographics, leading to scepticism and criticism, it seems to work very well when used by other demographics - and anyone doubting it becomes a denier or bigot, etc.
Maybe some are reading that and just treating it with the scepticism many do in other situations with other demographics, where the deflection to try and put blame for their own actions onto others is quickly shut down?
Whilst I agree with most of your points generally I am not sure how much this relates to Coote.
I could of course be wrong as I have never spoken to the fella and I am sure that at some point in his life he tragically had the difficulties we have heard from multiple lgbtq people.
The reason I don't think it applies to Cootes in relation to his current interview is because he wasn't currently "hiding" his sexuality. In his interview he mentions coming out at 21 to family and 25 to friends. However on the "circuit" his partner was known. He was in attendance with him or on his own (the partner) at events. And was known as the partner of Cootes.
Doesn't mean he, Cootes, didn't have inner turmoil etc and I don't know if audiences at matches were aware (or bothered) about his sexuality. However it was not a secret in circles where he attended in a sporting capacity.
My information is based on the interview he gave and the articles written regarding the situation. All indicate he was hiding his sexuality in some aspect, most likely with the wider football world/fans. They also indicate he was struggling with his sexuality in some respect which can lead you into other things to combat that struggle.
'Kin hell
Giving the dippers a run for their money in the "it's a conspiracy" stakes
This has always existed, but social media connected all the village idiots together where mass delusion can fester and grow, and a bubble of self-affirming madness snowballs with no sense of reality or reason able to pierce through.
Yeah fair enough. I think the debate/discussion was becoming one of what you are saying and one where people are leaning towards him bringing it out as a sort of "defence" for his actions.
I accept people don't always have the full side of a story and based on the interview I can accept/agree with your argument.
Myself having hung around in certain circles and quite by accident really know that his sexuality wasn't a secret as such. As I mentioned I don't know about fans in football grounds but other refs, commentators, pundits etc knew his partner and have done so for a while.
Yeah, Jim White said he met David Coote's partner a year ago at a dinner and said it wasn't much of a secret and figured it was common knowledge.
yeah but fear not, mon frere, with trump back in and farage on the way, we’ll be able to do it again soon.