Referee Mike Dean made Chelsea VAR error to protect his ‘mate’ Anthony Taylor
By The Athletic Staff
Aug 24, 2023
171
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has admitted he failed to correct a mistake in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last season to avoid his friend Anthony Taylor getting extra “grief”.
Dean, 55, was the VAR official at Stamford Bridge last August when Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair before a Spurs corner that was turned in by Harry Kane to level the match. Both managers — Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte of Spurs — were also booked after referee Taylor did not penalise Rodrigo Bentancur for a challenge on Kai Havertz.
Dean has now admitted he made a “really bad call” in not sending Taylor to review his decision before Kane’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Speaking on the Up Front podcast with Simon Jordan, Dean 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 (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.
“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.”
Dean was taken off VAR duty for two months and has since retired from the game. He said his decision not to tell Taylor to look at the Cucurella incident had an significant impact on him.
‘That was a major error,” he told the podcast. “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.
“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.”
Dean had said in a column for the Daily Mail last year that he did not send Taylor to the screen because he did not believe what Romero did constituted violent conduct.
He wrote in August 2022: “In the few seconds I had to study Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair, I didn’t deem it a violent act. I’ve since studied the footage, spoken to other referees and, upon reflection, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitch-side monitor to take a look for himself. The on-field referee always has the final say.
“It goes to show that no matter how experienced you are, and I’ve spent more than two decades as a Premier League official, you are always learning. It’s disappointing for me.”
PGMOL did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Athletic.
By The Athletic Staff
Aug 24, 2023
171
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has admitted he failed to correct a mistake in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last season to avoid his friend Anthony Taylor getting extra “grief”.
Dean, 55, was the VAR official at Stamford Bridge last August when Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair before a Spurs corner that was turned in by Harry Kane to level the match. Both managers — Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte of Spurs — were also booked after referee Taylor did not penalise Rodrigo Bentancur for a challenge on Kai Havertz.
Dean has now admitted he made a “really bad call” in not sending Taylor to review his decision before Kane’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Speaking on the Up Front podcast with Simon Jordan, Dean 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 (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.
“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.”
Dean was taken off VAR duty for two months and has since retired from the game. He said his decision not to tell Taylor to look at the Cucurella incident had an significant impact on him.
‘That was a major error,” he told the podcast. “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.
“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.”
Dean had said in a column for the Daily Mail last year that he did not send Taylor to the screen because he did not believe what Romero did constituted violent conduct.
He wrote in August 2022: “In the few seconds I had to study Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair, I didn’t deem it a violent act. I’ve since studied the footage, spoken to other referees and, upon reflection, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitch-side monitor to take a look for himself. The on-field referee always has the final say.
“It goes to show that no matter how experienced you are, and I’ve spent more than two decades as a Premier League official, you are always learning. It’s disappointing for me.”
PGMOL did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Athletic.
