Mike Dean admits he refused to intervene on VAR controversy because on-pitch referee ‘was a mate’

Former Premier League official Mike Dean has admitted that he refused to intervene on one of last season’s biggest VAR controversies because the on-pitch referee ‘was a mate’.

The 55-year-old, who spent 22 years refereeing in the top flight, became a dedicated VAR official last season after hanging up his whistle but made a high-profile gaffe in just the second matchday of the season.

The Controversial Incident

Dean was on VAR duty for Tottenham’s visit to Chelsea on 16 August 2022, with Anthony Taylor the on-field referee, and both managed to miss Cristian Romero’s clear hair pull on Marc Cucurella in the final moments of the game.

The Argentine centre-back should have been shown a red card but instead Dean chose not to intervene, with Spurs equalising from the subsequent corner, and he was stood down from duty for the following gameweek.

Dean’s Explanation

Dean, who has left his role with PGMOL and is part of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday programme, has now revealed that it was a conscious decision not to send Taylor to the monitor because he did not want to create any more ‘grief’ for his friend.

Speaking on the Up Front podcast with Simon Jordan, Dean – who regrets his decision – explained: ‘I missed the stupid hair pull at Chelsea versus Tottenham which was pathetic from my point of view.

‘It’s one of them where if I had my time again, what would I do? I’d send Anthony [Taylor] to the screen. I think I knew if I did send him to the screen … he’s cautioned both managers, he’s had a hell of a game, it’s been such a tough game end to end.

‘I said to Anthony afterwards: “I just didn’t want to send you to the screen after what has gone on in the game”.

‘I didn’t want to send him up because he is a mate as well as a referee and I think I didn’t want to send him up because I didn’t want any more grief than he already had.

‘Anthony, he is big and bald and ugly enough to know if he is going to the screen he is going to the screen for a reason.’

Dean’s Regret

He added: ‘If someone pulls their hair now it’s dead easy. It’s just a brain[fart] by me, a really bad call by me, and it kind of affected me as VAR going forward.’

He continued: ‘I missed a few games because you get taken out of the limelight.

‘That was a major error. If they don’t score from the corner it is not as big an issue. But I knew full well then I would be stood down the week after. I asked to take a bit of time off because it wasn’t for me.

‘I used to get in the car on a Friday and was dreading Saturday. I was thinking, “I hope nothing happens”. I used to be petrified sitting in the chair.’

Conclusion

Mike Dean’s decision not to intervene in one of last season’s biggest VAR controversies was due to his relationship with the on-field referee Anthony Taylor. Dean regrets his decision and was stood down from duty for the following gameweek. For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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