Mike Dean has admitted he made an error in not asking referee Anthony Taylor to check his pitchside monitor after Cristian Romero’s hair-pull incident on Marc Cucurella. Spurs defender Romero grabbed Chelsea wing-back Cucurella near the end of Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Dean, the video assistant referee, allowed the incident to go and Harry Kane equalised for Spurs seconds later from the build up.
“In the few seconds I had to study Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair, I didn’t deem it a violent act,” he said.
Speaking to MailPlus, Dean added: “I’ve since studied the footage, spoken to other referees and, upon reflection, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitchside monitor to take a look for himself.
“The referee on field always has the final say.”
An investigation was launched by the Football Association into Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’s post-match comments about Taylor. The German suggested Taylor should not referee Chelsea matches in future.