Tuesday’s briefing: Coote comes out as gay and Walker unveiled at AC Milan

Shamed former Premier League referee David Coote has come out as gay and revealed that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality contributed to the X-rated rant that saw him dismissed from his post last year.

AC Milan unveiled Kyle Walker following his arrival from Manchester City and the England defender wasted no time stating his desire to add to his trophy collection at San Siro.

Burnley met Leeds in a top-of-the-table Sky Bet Championship clash and it was a day of drama in Scotland’s Premiership.

Shamed former Premier League referee David Coote has revealed that a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality contributed to the X-rated rant that saw him dismissed from his post last year.

Coote was initially suspended last October after footage emerged of him mocking ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in a video that was widely shared on social media.

In an interview with The Sun, Coote said: “My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. 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. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.”

Kyle Walker said his new club AC Milan presents the perfect challenge.

Walker was unveiled as a Milan player on Monday having joined on loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season.

Walker said: “I could have stayed in Manchester, I still had a contract there. But I think it comes down to challenges in life.

“I’m so hungry, I still have the fire in my belly to go and achieve things… I don’t want to just win things in one country, I want to come to another