MY ACCOUNT
LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.
Dean stood down after battle of the Bridge
Mike Dean has been stood down from VAR duty this weekend after overseeing Chelsea’s fiery draw with Tottenham.
Dean, 54, retired from on-field refereeing at the end of last season but has remained involved with the Premier League as a VAR official.
He was in charge of the technology in Sunday’s 2-2 draw, where Spurs defender Cristian Romero got away with pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
The heated affair also saw both managers Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte sent off after the final whistle.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that Dean should have intervened on Romero’s hair pull.
He said: “I think the VAR should have intervened. I’m not sure the referee has seen it, I think he looks down but I think he does it instinctively.
“I think he watches the flight of the ball. He does look down, but I think it has already happened.
“The VAR has the perfect look. As soon as I saw it, I said, ‘I think he is going to get a red card here, he’s pulled him down by the hair’.
“I anticipated the VAR sending Anthony Taylor to the screen. I know for a fact that if Anthony had been sent to the screen, he would have given a red card and a free-kick to Chelsea.”
As a result, Dean will not oversee any of the 10 Premier League games taking place between Saturday and Monday.
Pearson: Refs make me consider retiring
Bad refereeing has made Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson consider retiring from the game.
The Robins ran out 2-0 victors over Luton in the Championship last night, but played the final 23 minutes with 10 men following Mark Sykes’ red card.
Pearson did not complain about that, but could not believe Hatters midfielder Luke Freeman was not also given his marching orders — or that City were denied a clear penalty moments later.
It is not the first time his side have been on the wrong end of decisions this season and Pearson said: “I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought about it last year, and I’ve thought about it again this year and that is basically to pack up being involved in the sport.
“And that is not because of how shallow the modern game is and how some of the aspects of the modern game irritate me, but the standard of officiating, as far as I’m concerned, is at an all-time low.”
Pearson feels that the “integrity of the game” is being compromised and expects to be fined for his outspoken remarks.
He added: “I’ll probably get in trouble again for saying what I think but somebody has to say it — I’m sick to death about people like me who have jobs that are in jeopardy.”
Own goal nightmare
Elsewhere on a busy night of EFL action, Millwall snatched a remarkable 2-2 draw at Swansea.
The Lions were 2-0 down heading into the 93rd minute and had managed just one shot on target when Ben Cabango diverted a low cross into his own net.
And two minutes later disaster struck when Nathan Wood accidentally planted a header beyond keeper Andy Fisher under pressure at the back post.
The point moved Gary Rowett’s visitors up to fourth and they will hope their fortune on the road continues when they travel to Norwich on Friday night.
