Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has acknowledged making a significant error during a heated match between Chelsea and Tottenham in August 2022.
Dean, who officiated over 550 matches in the Premier League from 2000 until his retirement at the end of the 2021-22 season, was the VAR official for the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The game was marred by controversy when Tottenham defender Cristian Romero was caught pulling the hair of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella during a set-piece.
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Despite the incident being visible on video replay, Romero avoided a red card. Spurs later equalized in the 96th minute through Harry Kane, leaving Chelsea fans outraged.
Reflecting on the incident, Dean admitted
“[Cristian] Romero pulled Cucurella’s hair, and I didn’t intervene. He clearly did it, and it should have been a red card.
That was a mistake on my part. It’s a decision I got wrong, and it impacted the game.”
The aftermath of the match saw tempers flare on and off the pitch. Then-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Tottenham’s Antonio Conte were involved in a dramatic confrontation at full-time.
Their handshake turned into a tense exchange, with Tuchel holding onto Conte and insisting, “Look at me when shaking my hand.” Players and coaching staff quickly stepped in to separate the pair.
Tuchel, now England manager, downplayed the incident during his post-match interview, saying:
“I thought when you shake hands, you look each other in the eyes. He had a different opinion. It wasn’t necessary, but neither were many things that happened in the game.
“It’s emotional—football is like that. There were several questionable decisions, including a clear foul on Kai Havertz and Richarlison being offside.
And since when can you pull someone’s hair on a football pitch?”
The fiery London derby remains a memorable example of the intense rivalries and emotions that define the Premier League.
