Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent video of a child, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old, from Collingham, has been charged with a Category A offence — the most serious classification — in connection with a video file recovered by officers in February 2025.

He is currently on conditional bail and is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 11.

Under UK law, “making an indecent image of a child” can include downloading, sharing, or saving images and videos of child abuse.

Coote’s charge comes just months after his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024.

He was sacked after a video circulated online appearing to show him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jürgen Klopp.

The fallout deepened when, in August this year, the Football Association (FA) handed Coote an eight-week suspension relating to the Klopp footage.

His disciplinary record also included a second video that surfaced in November 2024, allegedly showing him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024, where he had served as an assistant VAR.

UEFA launched its own ethics investigation and subsequently banned Coote from officiating in European competitions until June 30, 2026.

Coote, who officiated more than 100 Premier League matches before his dismissal, now faces the most serious allegation of his career as the case proceeds in court.