<p>Disgraced former <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/we-didnt-suffer-much-23473291" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Premier League</strong></a> referee David Coote says he hid his sexuality over fears of the abuse he would receive for being gay, apologising for the actions that led to his sacking.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Coote, 42, was suspended in November after footage emerged of him making derogatory remarks about former <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/epl-cody-gakpo-stars-as-liverpool-rout-ipswich-arsenal-survive-red-card-drama-to-beat-wolves-23472104" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Liverpool</strong></a> boss Jurgen Klopp in a video that&nbsp;<br />was widely shared on social media.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/bayern-munich-sign-potential-successor-to-manuel-neuer-23473890" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bayern Munich sign potential successor to Manuel Neuer</a></strong></p>
<p>Further photographs shared by the Sun newspaper in November, which the newspaper said were taken during Euro 2024, appeared to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled-up bank note. He was dismissed by referees body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last month.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In an interview with the Sun published on Tuesday, Coote revealed he is gay. &ldquo;I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref and to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;s led me to a whole course of behaviours,&rdquo; he added.</p>
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Coote, 42, was suspended in November after footage emerged of him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in a video that was widely 

Banned EPL ref says hiding sexuality led to poor choices

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Coote, 42, was suspended in November after footage emerged of him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in a video that was widely shared on social media

Banned EPL ref says hiding sexuality led to poor choices

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