25 August 2023 , 21:30
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Premier League officials are furious over an explosive claim by ex-referee Mike Dean that he declined to correct a mistake as VAR because the colleague involved - current ref Anthony Taylor - was “a mate”.
With fans across the top flight erupting in anger, officials and VARs are fuming at the aspersions cast on their integrity and decision making. Taylor is the referee accosted by angry Roma fans at Budapest airport after their Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May.
Dean was referring to a key match incident when he was VAR for Chelsea ’s feisty 2-2 draw with Spurs in August 2022. He said: "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'd already had." The incident occurred shortly before a late Harry Kane equaliser for Spurs.
Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty when Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella's hair. Speaking to Simon Jordan's Up Front podcast, released this week, Dean revealed he'd made a "really bad call" not sending Taylor to review it.
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"I missed the stupid hair pull at Chelsea versus Tottenham which was pathetic from my point of view," he said. "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. 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. The incident took place before Howard Webb succeeded Mike Riley as the man in charge at the PGMOL.
The spokesman from the body said: "We strongly refute any suggestion that VARs do not intervene, for whatever reason, when they have identified a clear and obvious error." Dean will not be subject to any action from the FA who have looked into the comments as he has already retired.
He became a dedicated Premier League VAR last season after hanging up his whistle at the end of the 2021-22 campaign. He refereed over 550 matches in the top flight. He was stood down from VAR duty for two months after the Stamford Bridge incident.
He subsequently brought an end to his 28-year career as a professional official because being in the VAR hot seat was something he no longer enjoyed. He went on: "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."