MIke Dean
In a recent Premier League clash between Sunderland and Manchester United, referee Mike Dean expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating after Nilson Angulo escaped punishment for an incident involving Bruno Fernandes. The controversial moment occurred during the final moments of the match at the Stadium of Light, where Fernandes appeared to be struck in the face by Angulo as he tracked back, leaving the Manchester United captain visibly frustrated. Despite the apparent contact, no card was issued, and VAR did not advise referee Stuart Attwell to review the incident on the field.
Paul Merson said: “Fernandes gets the ball, he’s got his head up and goes to play it. I think this could be a red card.”
Mike Dean said: “There’s not a lot of force in it, but I don’t understand why the player would run back and put his arm in and just put himself at risk.”
Mike Dean added: “I’m just annoyed about decisions in games where they’re just not making decisions. Fulham’s a prime example today. Just a poor performance on the pitch. They’re just not making decisions on the pitch. Joking apart, May or not – that’s an easy decision to make. They’re going to have to [address it], because it’s just not good enough. We were talking earlier off-air about it, it’s easier to go red, make a big and brave decision and go red card, and everybody’s happy if they stay on-field because it’s a good decision. I think they’re just scared of going red, they’re just petrified.”
The incident added to the tension in the match’s closing stages, with both Sunderland and Manchester United pushing for a decisive goal. Sunderland, in particular, had several opportunities to secure a victory against their Champions League-bound opponents but ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw. The match left Sunderland reflecting on a strong performance marred by missed chances, while the officiating decisions, or lack thereof, remained a talking point.
This incident highlights ongoing debates about the use of VAR and the decision-making processes of referees in the Premier League. Dean’s comments suggest a need for more decisive action in crucial moments, emphasizing that referees should not shy away from making bold decisions that could impact the outcome of a match.
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