BREAKING NEWS: Referee Mike Dean and his family have been sent DEATH THREATS with under-fire official asking to be withdrawn from Premier League games after errors in West Ham and Southampton matches
Premier League referee Mike Dean and his family have received death threats in the aftermath of a series of high-profile controversial decisions.
Dean, 52, has reported the threats to the police and has been asked to not be put in charge of a Premier League match next week. He will still take charge of Wednesday’s FA Cup game between Brighton and Leicester.
His most recent contentious call came in Saturday’s game between Fulham and West Ham where he decided to show Tomas Soucek a straight red card for violent conduct.
Referee Mike Dean has received death threats after a series of controversial decisions
Replays showed Soucek lift his elbow in the direction of Aleksandar Mitrovic but it seemed clear there was no malicious intent from the Czech midfielder.
Despite a lengthy VAR check, in which Dean watched several replays on the pitch-side monitor, the official was adamant it was a sending off.
The decision led West Ham boss David Moyes to say he was ’embarrassed’ for Dean at full time.
The spotlight was already on Dean after he made questionable calls in two recent matches involving Southampton.
He sent off Saints defender Jan Bednarek and awarded Manchester United a penalty for a foul on Anthony Martial in midweek.
More to follow.