Mike Dean Asks Not to Officiate Weekend EPL Games after Receiving Death Threats
The referee will not officiate the weekend EPL games after receiving insults and death threats following the controversial red cards given to Westham’s Tomas Soucek and Southampton's Jan Bednarek where both instances the decision was overturned on appeal.
Gathogo Wanjiru 
The 52-year-old Referee was criticized after controversially sending off Westham’s midfielder Tomas Soucek after he violently attacked Fulham’s player Mitrovic on Saturday.
The incident barely happened four days after Mike Dean sent off Southampton's defender Jan Bednarek for challenging Manchester United’s forward Anthony Martial.
The two red card decisions have however been overturned through an appeal where Westham’s Tomas Soucek will be playing in the match against Manchester United on Tuesday.
Both red cards, Dean choose to send off the players after being advised to view the incidence at the pitchside VAR monitor.
Mike Dean’s family has been largely targeted by the abuse on social media but Dean has confirmed they have reported the matter to the police.
This is what Soucek had to say, "I don't like hearing about it interfering with personal life and I send Mike Dean and his family my support. There is no place for abuse of any kind. It is in the past and I'm now focused on the rest of the season."
Dean will still referee Wednesday’s FA game between Leicester City and Brighton where the VAR will still be operational.
