Former Premier League referee David Coote has insisted that his drug use had no bearing on his on-pitch decisions.

Coote was in October initially suspended by the referees’ body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), after a video of him calling ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “arrogant” and a “German c***” circulated on social media.

David Coote, the former Premier League referee sacked after making derogatory comments about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has come out publicly as being gay and said that hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.