Mike Dean Admits He Made VAR Error Against Chelsea to Protect Friend

• Mike Dean has once again admitted to making a 'pathetic' VAR decision in a Chelsea game
• The Blues' home game vs. Tottenham last season was dramatic with both coaches sent off
• The real bone of contention was Harry Kane's equaliser being allowed to stand by the ref

Retired Premier League referee, Mike Dean, has stoked controversy after he revisited a Video Assistant Referee error he made last season.

Dean was in charge of the VAR when Tottenham Hotspur visited Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the second game of the season. The teams played out to a pulsating two-all draw that was full of drama.

Kalidou Koulibaly gave Chelsea the lead in the 19th minute, marking his debut goal for the club as well before Pierre-Emile Højbjerg restored parity in the 68th minute.

Nine minutes later, Reece James thrust the Blues ahead, sparking massive celebrations on the touchline from the then-Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel.

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The German, as well as his Tottenham counterpart, Antonio Conte, had earlier been booked after they clashed over a Rodrigo Bentacur foul on Kai Havertz.

The climax of the drama came when Harry Kane got a 90 plus 6 equaliser. Tuchel and Chelsea were aggrieved that the goal was allowed to stand despite Cristian Romero clearly pulling Marc Cucurella's hair in the penalty area.

Why Dean ignored the foul

Centre referee, Anthony Taylor, awarded the goal with Dean rubberstamping the decision. He has since admitted that he made a mistake.

"It’s one of them where if I had my time again, what would I do? I’d send Anthony Taylor to the screen," he said on the Up Front Podcast, as quoted by the Telegraph.

The 55-year-old then explained he had not referred Taylor to the screen because he did not want to give him 'any more grief.'

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"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."

Tuchel and Conte were involved in another altercation after the match, with the German later serving a suspension for his role, as reported by the Athletic. The two coaches were sacked soon after by their respective clubs.

Referee's body apologises to Wolves coach

This season, Sports Brief has reported that Wolverhampton Wanderers coach, Gary O'Neill revealed he received an apology from the referee's body for what was deemed to have been a blatant penalty against Manchester United's Andre Onana.

The coach, who only took up the job a few days earlier, was booked for complaining as officials continued to clamp down on protests by players and managers. However, Onana was not penalised despite clattering into Wolves star, Sasa Kalajdzic.