Sport
Ex-Premier League Referee David Coote Open Up Out About Being Gay
Former Premier League referee David Coote has publicly come out as gay, sharing his journey for the first time in an interview with the UK Sun. In the interview, Coote also revealed that he used cocaine as a way to escape from the pressures of his life and career.
The 42-year-old was dismissed from his position as a referee last year after a series of incidents that led the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to conclude that he had seriously breached his contract.
Coote spoke candidly about his struggles, reflecting on the shame he felt during his teenage years for hiding his sexuality. He admitted that he didn’t come out to his parents until he was 21 and to his friends until he was 25.
While Coote acknowledged that his sexuality was not the sole factor behind the downfall of his career, he emphasized that he couldn’t tell his full story without being honest about his identity.
He admitted that the emotional suppression he experienced as a young referee—both in terms of hiding his sexuality and his feelings—was a trait that may have served him well in his professional role but was damaged in his personal life.
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Judge Tells Duane Davis He Must Face Justice for Tupac’s Murder
Timini Egbuson Reflects on Embracing YouTube Movies in Nollywood
