By: Akinde Semiu Oluwaseun

The whistle once ruled David Coote’s life. Now? It’s silence.

Football’s rulers handed the disgraced ex-Premier League referee an eight-week suspension Tuesday, slapping him with mandatory “education” after his toxic 2020 rant about Jürgen Klopp went viral. “That German thinks he’s God,” Coote sneers in leaked footage, trashing Liverpool’s tactics. The FA called it an “aggravated breach” – fancy talk for bigotry with a badge.

Coote’s already lost his job. December’s axe from PGMOL? That came after the Klopp clip surfaced. But the FA wasn’t done. They tacked on extra shame for name-calling, forcing him into “remorse” sessions. “Crass,” he admitted. “Inappropriate.” But here’s the kicker: FA cleared him of gambling scandals he’d fiercely denied. “No proof,” they said. Yet November dropped another bomb – a video of Coote snorting white powder at Euro 2024.

UEFA? They’re done with him. Ban lasts till 2026.

In a raw January interview, Coote came out as gay, linking his “bad choices” to years hiding his identity. “Closeted closet,” he called it. But as fans jeer, the question lingers: Did football’s system fail him – or did he fail football?

Coote’s apology? “Deep remorse.” His legacy? A tarnished whistle… and a lesson no one’s learning.