Referee who called Jurgen Klopp a ‘German c---' offered return to football
Since being sacked by PGMOL, Coote, 43, has since been seen working as a delivery driver. But he has been given a route back into football after the FA said he would be free to officiate again after serving their own eight-week ban, which starts this week, and completing an education programme.
'DC [David Coote] must undergo and complete a mandatory face-to-face education programme, the details of which will be provided to him by The FA,' The FA explained, in an document relating to their decision to ban him.
'If he fails to satisfactorily complete the programme in [a four-month] period, he will be immediately suspended from all football and football related activity until such time as the mandatory programme is so completed.'
In an interview with The Sun, Coote opened up about his fear of coming out as gay in the 'macho world' of the Premier League and said using cocaine was an escape.
'I felt a deep sense of shame during my teenage years in particular. I didn't come out to my parents until I was 21. I didn't come out to my friends until I was 25,' Coote 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.'
He added: 'Whether [returning to football] would be with a whistle in my hand would be another matter. Certainly not for me to judge. But in terms of utilising my experience I hope there is an opportunity to do so in some way.'
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