Liverpool news: Ex-Fifa official ‘gobsmacked’ by Mike Dean and colleague ‘sleeping on the job’ as controversy analysed
Keith Hackett is “absolutely gobsmacked” by the officiating in Brighton’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League referee and head of PGMOL pointed the finger at referee Mike Dean and VAR official Stuart Attwell for their performances at the Amex Stadium.
As shown on BT Sport (12 March), Sanchez, 24, wiped out Luis Diaz as the Liverpool winger gave the visitors the lead at the Amex Stadium.
However, Mike Dean, 53, did not adjudge the incident to be worthy of a red card and neither did Stuart Attwell, 39, after a VAR check.
A quoted by Sky Sports (13 March), Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was bemused by the decision and took issue with the concept of “clear and obvious error.”
When asked for his assessment of the officials performance, Hackett told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs:
“I was absolutely amazed that Mike Dean, who is probably in his last season, has gone a bit soft.
“It is right in front of him. I am absolutely gobsmacked because this was the same guy that had the record for the most red cards.
“Has he gone into this season thinking he is not going to give reds? This was a red. I hope Mike Dean doesn’t ignore this incident and goes out the referee that he is.
“It was a poor decision. Attwell must have been sleeping on the job.”
In other news, a pundit has issued an ‘unexpected’ claim about Naby Keita after what he has just seen from the Liverpool midfielder.