Gay referee soccer
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Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
Spanish soccer referee Jesus Tomillero was driven out of his life’s passion due to the homophobic slurs and threats he faced. And that's led me to a whole course of behaviors.”
Coote said he was “not sober” when he gave his personal opinions on Klopp and Liverpool, adding the video was taped by a friend and he had forgotten about it.
“The video has been sat with somebody for four years, I'd forgotten it existed,” Coote said.
"I was sat waiting for my car to be serviced and I received a call to say that this video has surfaced on social media.
Will they hit me? And so I found myself in that position — escaping.
“I've had long periods where I've not used it — but it was one of the escape routes I had.
LONDON (AP) — Former Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and revealed that struggling to hide his sexuality contributed to the offensive rant that got him dismissed last year.
Coote was suspended in November when video circulated of him making offensive comments to friends about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.”
Death threats
Coote said he and his late mother received death threats following decisions he made on the field, and cited his own example to show how relentless abuse from the stands and on social media could impact the mental health of officials.
“Every official that takes to the pitch up and down the country from a local playing field to the Premier League is a human being, not just a referee,” he said.
"They have feelings.
They may not show them, but it will impact them when they're receiving abuse. "I can't resonate with how I felt then, but that was me.
"I was struggling with the schedule and there was no opportunity to stop. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. This is no doubt a positive development since Andalucia’s own football federation hasn’t shown Tomillero support.
Not everyone has ignored his plight however, as members of the European Parliament, different politicians, and soccer star Iker Casillas have all come forward in support of him.
But I'm not telling an authentic story if I don't say that I'm gay, and that I've had real struggles with hiding that.
“I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well — a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. Today he met with La Línea’s Mayor Juan Franco to discuss anti-homophobia initiatives – like educational lectures – to be developed in the coming months.
I don’t feel like refereeing. What will I do?'”
As a result of his experiences, Tomillero founded and now presides over Roja Directa Andalucia-LGBTI, an organization in Spain that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people who are victims of homophobia in the sports world.
His brother introduced him to the sport and has also shown support.
As Tomillero works to return to refereeing, it’s time for the sports community to unite and follow his example, by giving homophobia the red card.
[H/T The Bleacher Report]
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I recognized they fell well short of standards that are expected of a top-level referee and I deeply regret saying what I said.”Shortly after the first video, another video was published by The Sun showing him using cocaine during the European Championship last year.
“I don't recognize myself in the cocaine video,” Coote said.
Coote was fired in December after an investigation by the English referees' body.
In an interview with The Sun, Coote said: "My sexuality isn't the only reason that led me to be in that position. On a more personal level, he also has the support of his partner David and David’s family.
In his challenging childhood, refereeing was a form of distraction for a young Tomillero, who took up the practice when he was 11.
How will the match go? You can tell from the video I clearly wasn't sober and I deeply regret that I found myself in that position.
“The first thing I want to do is apologize to anyone I've offended by my actions. Now he’s taking a stand against the hatred he’s been subjected to since he came out as a gay man on social media about two years ago at the age of 19.
Tomillero spoke to The Bleacher Report about the dangers he faced. “I am always afraid — afraid of insults and wondering, “What will happen today?
I hope this shines a light on the impact it can have on a person.”
Gay referee says football has to 'drive out hate'
Archie FarmerBBC News, South West
A football referee from Plymouth is calling on clubs to do more to tackle homophobia and racism within the game.
In August 2017, he became the first man refereeing in England's professional leagues to come out as openly gay.
He appeared on an episode of the LGBT Sport Podcast this week to urge football to do more to combat prejudice.
"Football must take positive steps and it must take it now to drive the hate out", he said.
"So many football clubs have top of the range security so people shouldn't be able to hide anymore.
"Just because you're a paying member of public attending a football game, it doesn't give you the right to abuse other people."
Mr Atkin said: "Is homophobia or racism taken seriously?