Mike Dean: Referee asks not to officiate weekend Premier League fixtures after receiving death threats
Mike Dean has asked not to officiate a Premier League game this weekend after receiving abuse and death threats on social media after handing out two controversial red cards.
The 52-year-old was criticised for sending off West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek for violent conduct after he appeared to accidentally strike Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Hammers’ 0-0 draw at Fulham on Saturday.
That incident came just four days after Dean sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek for a challenge on Anthony Martial in the Saints’ 9-0 thrashing at Manchester United.
Both decisions have been overturned on appeal with Soucek now available for West Ham’s FA Cup away trip to Manchester United on Tuesday evening as well as being available for the Premier League matches against Sheffield United and Tottenham.
In both cases Dean chose to give a red card after being advised to view the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Dean’s family has also been targeted with social media abuse. All abuse has been reported to the police.
However, the 52-year-old is still going to referee Wednesday’s FA cup game between Leicester and Brighton and may return to Premier League action the following weekend.
If he does so, it is possible he could work alongside Lee Mason again as officials generally work in groups.
After being sent off against Manchester United, Bednarek could be heard saying „Martial said it’s not a foul“, while Soucek tweeted after his red against Fulham that „I spoke with Aleksandar Mitrovic in and after the game and he said to me that our duel was fair“.
Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher said: „I’m not a great one for looking back, but when I was refereeing, I took stick in games or coming out to the car park afterwards. But when you went home that was then end of it.
„Unfortunately, now we have social media, and it goes on and on and on, creating avenues like this which are very distasteful.
„It’s not a good place for Mike Dean to be at the moment, I feel for him and his family. I worked with Mike many years ago and bump into him every now and then, he’s a very upbeat, happy guy. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody, it’s terrible.“
On the situation, PGMOL managing director, Mike Riley added: „Threats and abuse of this nature are totally unacceptable and we fully support Mike’s decision to report these messages his family received to the police.
„Nobody should be victim of abhorrent messages like this. Online abuse is unacceptable in any walk of life and more needs to be done to tackle the problem.“
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