25 August 2023 , 15:26
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Referees chiefs have defended their use of VAR after controversial comments from former official Mike Dean.
Dean left Premier League fans furious on Thursday by admitting he refused to correct an error as the video assistant referee because he didn't want to cause the on-field referee, Anthony Taylor, any "grief". Dean and Taylor are close friends.
The incident in question happened during the 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham last season. Shortly before Harry Kane's equaliser, Cristian Romero grabbed Marc Cucurella's hair and pulled the Blues defender to the ground.
Chelsea fans were furious with Taylor's failure to dismiss Romero and are even more angered by Dean's confession. The incident has brought the integrity of Premier League referees into question and it could take a long time for PGMOL to win back that trust.
In a statement from the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), a spokesperson said: “VARs undergo extensive training with the focus centred entirely around effectively working with the on-field team of officials to rectify clear and obvious errors.
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"When VARs identify a clear and obvious error by the on-field team and match officials, they should intervene and recommend a review by the referee. We strongly refute any suggestions that VARs do not intervene, for whatever reason, when they have identified a clear and obvious error.”
Dean revealed all on Up Front with Simon Jordan. He said: "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 to the screen.
Mike Dean made the confession on Up Front with Simon Jordan (Up Front with Simon Jordan)What do you make of Mike Dean's confession? Let us know in the comments below!
"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. If someone pulls their hair now it’s dead easy. It’s just a brainwave by me, a really bad call by me, and it kind of affected me as VAR going forward."
Dean retired as a referee in May 2022 to become a VAR official. PGMOL dropped him after the draw between Chelsea and Tottenham, with Dean admitting his mistake days later. Yet this is the first time he's admitted to making that mistake on purpose.