![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/mike-dean-faces-the-music-live-on-sky-sports-over-explosive-var-revelations/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0_Screenshot-2023-08-26-at-134623.jpg&description=Soccer Saturday panelist Mike Dean has hit out at the backlash he has received after making controversial comments over a VAR decision he was involved in from last season Former Premier League official Mike Dean has hit back at criticism after his comments referring to a VAR incident earlier this week sparked outrage amongst the PGMOL. Dean, who officiated hundreds of top-flight matches, became a VAR official after stepping down from his refereeing duties. But the 55-year-old admitted he purposely ignored an on-field error during Chelsea's match against Tottenham last season to avoid causing his friend, Anthony Taylor, any "grief" on a podcast this week. The incident in question occurred in the 2-2 draw between the London rivals last October. Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella's hair shortly before Harry Kane scored at Stamford Bridge but Dean refused to make Taylor review the decision. Referee chiefs responded to Dean's comments with a strongly worded statement on Friday afternoon, but the man himself defended himself during his new weekly guest slot on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. After being asked to run through the incident and why he failed to get Taylor to review the decision by host Simon Thomas, Dean attempted to talk down the backlash to his comments. He insisted: "It's funny because that's all been blown out of context. What I've said is old news, it's been out in news reports before maybe four or five months ago, so it's not new news. "I refer to him [Taylor] as a mate, I mentioned before that what you've got to look at in context is that you might not like some guys in your refereeing group, but when you get a game on the weekend, there's four of you in the middle, there's the VAR and the AVAR and them six people are your mates for the day. Join the debate! What do you make of Dean's explanation? Let us know here. "You might play in professional team with 11 players and you might not like three or four of them. But three o'clock on a Saturday afternoo){kind=link}
Soccer Saturday panelist Mike Dean has hit out at the backlash he has received after making controversial comments over a VAR decision he was involved in from last season
Former Premier League official Mike Dean has hit back at criticism after his comments referring to a VAR incident earlier this week sparked outrage amongst the PGMOL.
Dean, who officiated hundreds of top-flight matches, became a VAR official after stepping down from his refereeing duties. But the 55-year-old admitted he purposely ignored an on-field error during Chelsea’s match against Tottenham last season to avoid causing his friend, Anthony Taylor, any “grief” on a podcast this week.
The incident in question occurred in the 2-2 draw between the London rivals last October. Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair shortly before Harry Kane scored at Stamford Bridge but Dean refused to make Taylor review the decision.
Referee chiefs responded to Dean’s comments with a strongly worded statement on Friday afternoon, but the man himself defended himself during his new weekly guest slot on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.