Liverpool news: Ex-Fifa official demands ruling body action after announcement via Sky
The PGMOL should make Mike Dean a VAR specialist to prevent bad decisions like the one which saw Robert Sanchez escape a red card for flooring Liverpool winger Luis Diaz earlier this month (12 March).
That is the view of former Fifa and Premier League official Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Mike Dean’s future.
As reported by Sky Sports (23 March), the 53-year-old is to retire from refereeing at the end of the season.
Dean is said to be in talks with the PGMOL with a view to becoming a permanent VAR from the start of next season.
Hackett suggested having specialist VAR officials would reduce the amount of VAR errors.
“Mike Dean would make an extremely good referee coach as well as a VAR official,” he told Football Insider.
“I’m in favour of specialist people for the VAR role, as opposed to just a referee. We have seen too many wrong decisions from VAR.
“Mike Dean could do both roles for me. There is a role at the PGMOL for Mike Dean. It is essential that they don’t lose his individual skill set.
“At the end of the day, he is an outstanding decision maker. For me, he has been one of the best referees. I think he should be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
“He will be missed. He brings that extra bit of humanity to the game. I don’t want him to be lost.
“He should be a VAR official on the weekends and then a referee coach during the week. He has a lot to offer. He is a great communicator.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed Liverpool could sign ‘£100m’ Jude Bellingham for cut-price fee after journalist’s update.