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

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.

I have received deeply unpleasant abuse during my career as a ref,” he said. “And to add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult.”