Adeleye Kunle Reports
Mike Dean, the video assistant referee, has admitted that he should have recommended to referee Anthony Taylor that Cristian Romero’s hair pull on Marc Cucurella be reviewed for a possible red card in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea, TrackNews reports
Dean, the match’s VAR at Stamford Bridge, decided against any punishment at the time.
In stoppage time, Harry Kane headed in from the resulting corner to equalize.
Dean wrote in his TrackNews column, “No referee wants to1 drive home from a game knowing they should have made a different call.” In retrospect, you realize you could have done things differently.
“For Harry Kane’s second goal, I asked referee Anthony Taylor to wait while I investigated the incident involving Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.”
“As VAR, I couldn’t award a free kick, but I could advise Taylor to go to the referee review area to consider a possible red card.” I didn’t think Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair was a violent act in the few seconds I had to study it.
“I’ve since studied the footage, spoken with other referees, and, in retrospect, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitch-side monitor to see for himself.” The on-field referee always has the final say.
