Mike Dean dumped from VAR after Chelsea draw with Tottenham controversy | OneFootball

Mike Dean has been dumped as VAR ref after Sunday's controversial draw between Chelsea and Tottenham.

Dean retired from refereeing at the end of last season, more than 20 years after taking charge of his first game in the top flight. He didn't step away from football altogether, though, remaining involved with the Premier League as a dedicated video assistant referee (VAR).

The 54-year-old was in position for Chelsea's contest against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, when the game was full of controversial moments. With the list of officials for the upcoming round of games confirmed, Dean will now have a week off, reports the Mirror.

Chief among Chelsea's complaints was an incident shortly before Harry Kane's late equaliser for Spurs, when Cristian Romero avoided punishment for a hair pull on Marc Cucurella.

Some 140,000 people (at the time of writing) have signed a petition calling for the Premier League to stop ref Anthony Taylor from officiating future matches involving the Blues.