[Football] David Coote

[Zeberdi]

Selling your soul to The Sun ?
There are somethings more important than money.

You don’t think tabloids print stories or gossip about people unless they have their consent?

I grew up in the world of journalism and based on what I know, @nickbrighton ’s post is spot on.

At least celebrities get a right to express a POV if they accept a paper’s invite to respond/comment on a story they were already planning to run.

 

[ROSM]

I do wonder if there was something more sinister in the initial video becoming public when it did, and then the powder pics, and then the texts during a match evening all being released?

And then this. Was he being blackmailed or coerced by someone. Of course the Sun then chews over the scraps of the wreckage of his life and career

 

[Greg Bobkin]

It sums this man up that he’s giving this interview to the one paper that is the most to blame for the ‘scared to come out’ culture around football.

There might be more to it than that, for example, his hand could be forced and he's gone into 'damage limitation' mode.

On a slightly related, isn't is mad to think that, in 2025, people in the UK are still scared to come out in any walk of life? And the fact that if someone is gay it is even a story – let alone front page news or an 'exclusive'?

We've got a long way to go...

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I disagree.

Prove he's drug free, and I wouldn't be against him reffing again

He made a mistake, we've all made them.

Shouldn't wreck his life - he didn't kill/maim someone.

I’d support this.

 

[aolstudios]

I do wonder if there was something more sinister in the initial video becoming public when it did, and then the powder pics, and then the texts during a match evening all being released?

And then this. Was he being blackmailed or coerced by someone. Of course the Sun then chews over the scraps of the wreckage of his life and career

I doubt very much if the sun's involvement was that late. Or even close

 

[Questions]

You don’t think tabloids print stories or gossip about people unless they have their consent?

I grew up in the world of journalism and based on what I know, @nickbrighton ’s post is spot on.

At least celebrities get a right to express a POV if they accept a paper’s invite to respond/comment on a story they were already planning to run.

And take payment for it ?
I know what they’re like…. A family member worked for the Sun and The News of the World as a photographer and journalist. All scum.

 

[rippleman]

There might be more to it than that, for example, his hand could be forced and he's gone into 'damage limitation' mode.

On a slightly related, isn't is mad to think that, in 2025, people in the UK are still scared to come out in any walk of life? And the fact that if someone is gay it is even a story – let alone front page news or an 'exclusive'?

We've got a long way to go...

I think it's generally just professional football.

Nigel Owens, RU official had no problem. Saw a clip of him after a crap Quins lineout saying "I'm straighter than that".

If Coote had just come out as gay it wouldn't have sold much copy. I think it was the marching powder that got him all the headlines.

 

[Eeyore]

I think it's generally just professional football.

Nigel Owens, RU official had no problem. Saw a clip of him after a crap Quins lineout saying "I'm straighter than that".

If Coote had just come out as gay it wouldn't have sold much copy. I think it was the marching powder that got him all the headlines.

Yes, for Owens it was a much safer environment. He was also a highly respected international referee as well as being seen as a very loveable eccentric.

The Quins one liner was funny. But when Chris Robshaw was standing over him in an international match trying to make a point and he just simply wagged his finger and said 'Christopher !' and Robshaw said 'sorry' and walked off like a disciplined child, it made me realise how less toxic rugby is.

Nigel Owens was a camp Collina

 

[dazzer6666]

Selling your soul to The Sun ?
There are somethings more important than money.

Lost his well-paid job, probably has no income, little prospect of going back to work anytime soon…….the Sun had him by the wotsits

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I think it's generally just professional football.

Nigel Owens, RU official had no problem. Saw a clip of him after a crap Quins lineout saying "I'm straighter than that".

If Coote had just come out as gay it wouldn't have sold much copy. I think it was the marching powder that got him all the headlines.

That's true but someone - in any walk of life - announcing they are gay is still often 'news'. And a lot of the time, there is a a disproportionate account of media coverage (social and traditional) about it, considering what the announcement is.

It's bizarre - to me, at least.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Coote to (a hugely lucrative gig in) Saudi - HERE WE GO!

Possibly not now, given the latest news...

 

[Questions]

Lost his well-paid job, probably has no income, little prospect of going back to work anytime soon…….the Sun had him by the wotsits

I’ve no doubt that’s what HE thought.

 

[Zeberdi]

And take payment for it ?

Seems like you are condemning Coote here not the newsparer?

And yes - once the story was running anyway, it would be a bit silly to refuse the money when a Tabloid is going to print crap about you anyway but offers you a chance to “sell” your side of the story before it goes to print. All tabloid papers work like that, not just the Sun - the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror too.

Of course it produces the sensationalism and gossip content that characterises tabloid journalism and is usually utter tripe about celebrity culture and sports stars but that’s another issue.

 

[Questions]

Seems like you are condemning Coote here not the newsparer?

I’m condemning both I suppose Z. But the newspaper is just scum. I woulnt call that young ref that but maybe he should have just walked away. So the Sun ‘out him’.. Who would give a f*** ? Just for the dosh. Wanker

 

[Hugo Rune]

You don’t think tabloids print stories or gossip about people unless they have their consent?

I grew up in the world of journalism and based on what I know, @nickbrighton ’s post is spot on.

At least celebrities get a right to express a POV if they accept a paper’s invite to respond/comment on a story they were already planning to run.

I absolutely think that Coote has been forced or compromised into giving the interview. It’s standard practice from that rag.

I can’t see why he’d benefit from knocking at their door with the intention of spreading his truth as it really doesn’t add up to me in a cost/benefit type of way. I think the Sun hunted him down and black mailed him.

 

[Napper]

probably more to come ......

 

[amexer]

It was not fact he was is gay is the problem More to do with the company he kept

 

[Zeberdi]

I’m condemning both I suppose Z. But the newspaper is just scum. I woulnt call that young ref that but maybe he should have just walked away. So the Sun ‘out him’.. Who would give a f*** ? Just for the dosh. Wanker

For them it was a major coup so they would have been desperate for his corroboration . Not sure they would have outed him unilaterally and without his corroboration (unless they had evidence of his homosexuality). I have no doubt that he was preyed upon by a ‘scum’ paper at a very vulnerable time in his life so I’m not going to judge him for feeling he needed to sell his side of the story about the struggles he has had a referee or how coming out years earlier would have made that worse - He obviously felt it went some way to explain the substance misuse, comments about Klopp etc.

Most fans think abusing refs from the terraces is fine (a lot of the time it is actually understandable and even funny from my perspective tbh) but they make mistakes - they are human and because they are human, I wonder if that abuse from fans affects them at times more than we realise? There is certainly no excuse to carry it over into social media though.

 

[aolstudios]

I absolutely think that Coote has been forced or compromised into giving the interview. It’s standard practice from that rag.

I can’t see why he’d benefit from knocking at their door with the intention of spreading his truth as it really doesn’t add up to me in a cost/benefit type of way. I think the Sun hunted him down and black mailed him.

Pretty much a certainty, isn't it

 

[HeaviestTed]

Honestly there can’t be many of us who haven’t slagged off klopp after sniffing a cheeky line.