A Premier League referee, Mike Dean, alerted police on Monday because his family received death threats after he drew two red cards in two games last week.
Dean, who has coached in the Premier League since 2000, was criticized for sending off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek, against Manchester United last Tuesday, and then West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, during a Saturday game against Fulham.
These two decisions were annulled after an appeal to the English Federation. According to the English press, Dean asked not to referee next weekend. Yes, he is scheduled to direct the fifth round of the Cup between Leicester and Brighton on Wednesday.
Mike Riley, CEO of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body that trains and elects the umpires who lead in the Premier League, upheld Dean’s decision to go to the police.
“Threats and abuse of this nature are totally unacceptable and we fully support Mike’s decision to notify the police about messages received by his family,” he stated.
Bednarek was sent to the locker room for a foul on Frenchman Anthony Martial in United’s 9-0 win over the Saints. Dean upheld his initial decision after verifying it on the Old Trafford television monitor.
Dean sent off Czech Soucek for accidentally hitting Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow in Saturday’s goalless draw between West Ham and Fulham. The 52-year-old referee reviewed the images again in the VAR and decided to validate the direct red.
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