Mike Dean admits making VAR mistake to protect fellow referee Anthony Taylor

Mike Dean has sensationally admitted that he didn’t send Anthony Taylor to review a decision in order to prevent him from getting ‘grief’.

He 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.”

Dean continued: “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.”

After talking about that mistake, Dean revealed that he was petrified when sitting in the VAR hot seat.

He said: “That was a major error. 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 was not selected for VAR duties for the following two months before stepping away from refereeing altogether.