English Premier League referee Mike Dean has come out to express his regrets for not asking Anthony Taylor to go to the Video Assistant Referee(VAR) booth during Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The two referees were at the centre of controversial decisions that saw Spurs grab a late equalizer. Dean, who retired from on-field officiating last season, is now confined to VAR duty.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel lamented on the ‘poor’ decisions made by the referees at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were pegged back twice by their former manager Antonio Conte’s side, with Tuchel explaining that both of Spurs’ goals should not have stood.
Kalidou Koulibaly had put Chelsea ahead in the first half. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg drew Spurs back and the goal was allowed to stand despite protests from Chelsea that Richarlison was in an offside position, thus blocking Edouard Mendy’s view.
A scuffle ensued on the touchline between both coaches. In the stoppage time, Cristian Romero dragged down Chelsea’s new signing Marc Cucurella by grabbing his hair. VAR chose not to intervene.
Mike Dean has reviewed the incidents as Football London reports, Mike Dean has now admitted that that was a mistake.
“I’ve now had time to reflect on Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge. I was VAR at Stockley Park and in the days after that 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham, we had meetings as part of our regular camps to discuss what happened.“
“I asked referee Anthony Taylor to wait while I looked at the incident involving Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella. I’ve since studied the footage, spoken to other referees and, upon reflection, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitchside monitor to take a look for himself. The referee onside always has the final say. “
Both Tuchel and Conte now face bans from the Football Association for their role in the fracas.
Source: Sportsbrief
