https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/33035161/david-coote-cocaine-sexuality-referee/
David Coote has done a very raw interview talking about his situation and it's very much a sad story. Burdened by his sexuality, Coote turned to drugs so he could hide himself away in the macho world of top level football. Now don't get me wrong, what Coote did was wrong and he deserved to go, but there is a far bigger problem here.
Homophobia is rife in football, Coote is probably the first EPL-associated person to openly come out as gay and that's only AFTER he was dismissed. The fact he didn't feel safe enough to talk about it during his time as a referee is truly shocking. Until there's change in people's attitudes and harsher punishment for abusers, I fear that nothing will change.
Will we ever have an openly gay EPL footballer? Or manager? Or referee?? It is a sad indictment that in 2025 we do not.
David Coote + Homophobia
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Randy Wolters (U1734)
posted 4 hours, 37 minutes ago
I recently came out as the world's first gay football fan and it has not been easy. I am not allowed to be openly gay at matches. Me and my partner (cis male) were have seex (which is legal in the UK) in the Stretford End at Old Trafford and we were THROWN OUT. It seems some people still have a problem with people being gay. I tried but now I will be keeping being gay to myself. It is just easier.
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I'm absolutely fine with you coming out as gay Barry really I am but when you start bringing religion into it that's when you utterly disgust me you filth
You need flogging for that... There's no place for it on here
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Explain further.
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 9 minutes ago
Hatred and homophobia are not allowed on my article thanks
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Have you had your back doors smashed in slackchops?
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 9 minutes ago
Hatred and homophobia are not allowed on my article thanks
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Have you had your back doors smashed in slackchops?
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Smashed in like Paul Power's knee???
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 9 minutes ago
Hatred and homophobia are not allowed on my article thanks
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Have you had your back doors smashed in slackchops?
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Smashed in like Paul Power's knee???
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Paul Power, was he a Bumder?
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Arnefield RAP (U22951)
posted 8 hours, 11 minutes ago
Coote is talking shiiite.
He should be made to prove his gayness. Let's see his search history for starters.
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I'd rather not tbh
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 8 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 2 minutes ago
Will we ever have an openly gay EPL footballer? Or manager? Or referee?? It is a sad indictment that in 2025 we do not.
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Why is it sad?. It has nothing to do with football.
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It very much does. Why can't a footballer be gay??
The same thing you're saying, was said about black players in the 70s and 80s...
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oh yeah, black people can hide their skin color
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People back then would say black players weren't good enough, clearly they were, and that it wasn't relevant that they had different coloured skin.
What about black managers too then? Why are there so few??
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Uriah Rennie ruined it for them all.
posted on 28/1/25
comment by VOF - Farke me I like wins ...... (U17124)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 2 minutes ago
Will we ever have an openly gay EPL footballer? Or manager? Or referee?? It is a sad indictment that in 2025 we do not.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it sad?. It has nothing to do with football.
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It very much does. Why can't a footballer be gay??
The same thing you're saying, was said about black players in the 70s and 80s...
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I suspect the real fear for anyone is not the crowds (although you'll get some morons from time to time), it's the dressing room, coaching environment that'll be pretty uncomfortable.
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I'd have thought being gay in the armed forces would've been tougher but past 20 yrs have changed attitudes somewhat. Professional football is way behind but could change very quickly when a few come out.
posted on 28/1/25
comment by Custardeyes (U4500)
posted 3 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Slack Alice (U9489)
posted 9 minutes ago
Hatred and homophobia are not allowed on my article thanks
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Have you had your back doors smashed in slackchops?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Smashed in like Paul Power's knee???
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Power, was he a Bumder?
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I think the big gay 'tache gave it away
posted on 28/1/25
A strange interview, to say the least.
Not really sure what Coote is hoping to achieve from this.
He may well have had a tough time of it, but that’s not justification for what he did and it surely won’t lead to him getting his job back.
It does bring discussion around homophobia to the fore again though. Football still has a problem with this, which is absolutely pathetic to say in 2025.
This forum is a demonstration of that at times, I’m sad to say.
posted on 28/1/25
I don't think anyone here is homophobic. They are just really patriotic about their straightness.