Premier League referee Mike Dean will no longer serve as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for upcoming matches involving Arsenal and Manchester United. This decision comes after Dean was involved in a controversial incident during Southampton’s game against West Ham United on Saturday.
During the match, Dean awarded a penalty to West Ham after reviewing a challenge by Southampton’s Matty Cash on Jarrod Bowen. The decision was met with criticism from fans and pundits alike, with many arguing that it was a harsh call.
Dean’s involvement in VAR duties for Arsenal and Manchester United matches has now been withdrawn, with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) making the decision to remove him from those fixtures. The PGMOL has not provided specific reasons for this action.
In addition to Dean’s removal, the PGMOL has also made changes to the VAR officials for upcoming matches. For Arsenal’s game against Chelsea, Chris Kavanagh will replace Dean as the VAR, with Stuart Attwell serving as the assistant VAR. For Manchester United’s match against Newcastle United, Andre Marriner will take over as the VAR, while Simon Bennett will be the assistant VAR.
This decision comes at a crucial time for both Arsenal and Manchester United, as they are currently battling for positions in the top four of the Premier League. Any controversial decisions made by VAR officials can have a significant impact on the outcome of these matches.
Meanwhile, in other football news, Chelsea’s Kai Havertz is set to miss their upcoming game against Arsenal due to a minor hamstring injury. The midfielder picked up the injury during Chelsea’s training session on Monday and will be unavailable for selection.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s youth player Alejandro Garnacho has signed his first professional contract with the club. The 17-year-old forward has impressed with his performances for Manchester United’s U18 team and has now been rewarded with a professional deal.
Garnacho joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid’s youth academy last year and has quickly made a name for himself at the club. He will now look to continue his development and push for a place in the senior team in the future.
Overall, these recent developments highlight the ongoing importance of VAR in the Premier League and the scrutiny that officials face when making crucial decisions. The changes made by the PGMOL aim to ensure fairness and accuracy in upcoming matches involving Arsenal and Manchester United.
