Mike Dean is a regular on Soccer Saturday(Image: Sky Sports)

Mike Dean makes stunning u-turn in seconds as Curtis Jones Liverpool vs Chelsea penalty overturned

Mike Dean is employed by Sky Sports to offer his thoughts on refereeing decisions and di so during Liverpool vs Chelsea in the Premier League

20 Oct 2024, 17:11 by Lee Wilmot · football.london

Referees come in for enough stick without former officials giving supporters ammunition. But that is what Mike Dean unfortunately manages to do on a regular occasion.

Dean, like other pundits in the game, is paid now to speak his mind on refereeing decisions throughout the Premier League season. And of course what he says is subjective.

VAR officials this season were tasked with not making subjective calls, instead handing the emphasis back to the referees on the pitch. Referee's Call was introduced, much llike Umpire's Call in cricket, whereby the the on-field decision would stand unless there had been a clear and obvious error.

And there was an incident that was deemed clearly and obviously wrong during Liverpool vs Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool were awarded their second penalty of the day when Curtis Jones was upended by Blues keeper Robert Sanchez. But on closer inspection, the Blues shotstopper got a touch on the ball before clattering the Liverpool man, who had actually won the first penalty too.

VAR Michael Oliver suggested on-field referee John Brooks take a look at his decision and the penalty award was rescinded, as was the yellow card brandished to Sanchez.

And while Brooks changed his mind after seeing the replay, controversial former referee Dean also had a change of heart on punditry duty for Sky Sports. But only after seeing Brooks called over by the VAR. Prior to that he had appeared to agree a penalty should be given.

Speaking on Sky Sports after seeing the first replay where Sanchez clearly gets a touch on the ball, Dean said: "He's got the slightest touch on the ball, but momentum has carried him through and he's completely wiped out Jones."

Then when Oliver tells Brooks to have a look at the monitor, Dean backtracked and made a complete u-turn.

He added: "Plays he ball first. Momentum is always going to take him (Sanchez) into him (Jones).

"It looks untidy but when you see the replay there's going to be an inevitable coming together. Because Sanchez played the ball first onto him, it will definitely be overturned."

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