David Coote was dismissed in December after six years as an elite referee. He says he is ‘sorry’ for the actions that led to his downfall. The post Former Premier League referee, fired from his job for drug use,

Former Premier League referee David Coote apologised for the actions that led to his sacking last month by England referees' body PGMOL, saying that the pressure of the job and fear of abuse due to his sexuality triggered his behaviour.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay in his first interview since being dismissed by PGMOL last month. The 42-year-old broke his silence in an emotional conversation with The Sun,

David Coote has come out as gay in his first interview since he was sacked as a Premier League referee last month

Sacked Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and says he took cocaine to ‘escape’ the ‘stresses and relentlessness of the job’. Coote, 42, was sacked by referees’ body PGMOL in December following a ‘thorough investigation’ into his conduct.

David Coote was fired by the PGMOL last month after a video emerged of him calling Liverpool "s---" and branding Jurgen Klopp a "German c---" - and another of him allegedly snorting cocaine