MX23RW : Friday, February 19 11:55:05| >> :600:254685:254685:

Mike Dean to return to refereeing this weekend after death threats

Mike Dean to return to refereeing this weekend after death threats
© Reuters
The 52-year-old and his family received the threats on social media after Mike Dean had been involved in two controversial incidents.

Mike Dean will return to refereeing in the Premier League on Saturday having stood down last weekend after receiving death threats online.

Dean will take charge of Burnley v West Brom at Turf Moor, the Premier League has announced.

The 52-year-old and his family received the threats on social media after Dean had been involved in two controversial incidents.

The referee showed a red card to West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek for catching Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow late on during the goalless draw at Fulham and also sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek in the 9-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Both of the decisions – which followed Dean reviewing each incident on the pitchside monitor after consulting VAR – were later overturned following an appeal.

Dean asked to be stood down from the next round of Premier League fixtures, although he was in charge of the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Leicester and Brighton last Wednesday.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited managing director and former referee Mike Riley offered Dean the organisation's full support, while Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the threats to Dean and his family were "inexcusable" and called for "greater proactive intervention" from social media companies.

Manchester United v Southampton – Premier League – Old Trafford
Mike Dean was involved in two controversial red card incidents after checking the VAR monitor (Lindsey Parnaby/PA)

Top-flight managers also gave their support to Dean, among them Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho who said "something has to be done" about the online abuse of the referee.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti described the abuse as "unacceptable" and said that the police should take action, while Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder termed such acts as "cowardly, disgusting and inhumane" and called Dean "an honourable referee and a decent guy" .

Czech Republic international Soucek also spoke out against the criticism levelled at Dean.

Soucek posted on Twitter: "Whatever decisions are made on the pitch should stay on the pitch.

"I don't like hearing about it interfering with personal life and I send Mike Dean and his family my support.

"There is no place for abuse of any kind. It is in the past and I'm now focused on the rest of the season."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City24175249153456
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd24137450311946
3Leicester CityLeicester24144642261646
4Chelsea24126640241642
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2412663728942
6Liverpool24117645321340
7Everton2311483533237
8Aston Villa22113836241236
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs23106736251136
10Arsenal24104103125634
11Leeds UnitedLeeds23102114042-232
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2486102532-730
13Southampton2385103039-929
14Crystal Palace2485112742-1529
15Burnley2476111830-1227
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2451182530-526
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2474132540-1525
18Fulham24310112032-1219
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2427151955-3613
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2432191540-2511

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