Report: PGMOL tell Mike Dean he was wrong to send off West Ham ace Soucek
West Ham are reportedly set to win their appeal of Tomas Soucek’s controversial red card in the draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Czech international was given his marching orders late into the match by referee Mike Dean, who deemed an elbow to Aleksander Mitrovic as violent and deliberate.
According to The Sun, Dean has been told by bosses at Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) he was wrong to send off Soucek.
It would be a welcome boost for David Moyes men, who will be without their top goalscorer until February 28 if the decision isn’t reversed. Moyes labelled the red card as “embarrassing” after full time.
An independent panel will make the final decision. The dismissal will only be overturned if they feel Dean was not technically right to make the call.
No surprises really
Where is the common sense in all of this?
We all know that Dean craves the centre of attention, but it’s possibly the worst VAR decision made yet. It isn’t the first time he’s cost us either.
Our last red card in the league? It came on September 16th 2019, in another 0-0 draw but with Aston Villa. Arthur Masuaku was given two harsh yellow cards as Dean left Villa Park under the limelight, in an otherwise dull evening of football.
It would be a second decision overturned in a week for Dean. He wrongly sent off Jan Bednarek against Manchester United just days ago. The Saints appealed and the red was reversed.
We’re hoping the PGMOL see sense and don’t just back their referee to spare blushes. Soucek clearly had no intention to elbow Mitrovic, in the 94th minute of a game we weren’t losing.
If it stands, we will be without our top goalscorer for the FA Cup clash with Manchester United on Tuesday. He’ll also be out of our league games with Sheffield United and Tottenham in the coming weeks.
In other West Ham news, Antonio’s shocker against Fulham highlights our error in the January window.