Football
ESPN staff 7y

Mike Dean assigned to Championship after multiple refereeing controversies

Embattled Premier League referee Mike Dean has been assigned to oversee the Championship clash between Barnsley and Leeds on Saturday.

Dean has been the target of widespread criticism after a series of debatable decisions over the festive fixtures, and instead of refereeing a top-flight game this weekend he will spend a week in the second tier.

He sent off West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli against Manchester United, only for the red card to later be rescinded. That game also featured a goal scored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic while he appeared to be in an offside position.

The 48-year-old also controversially chose not to dismiss Everton's Ross Barkley after a late challenge on Liverpool's Jordan Henderson.

Dean has stayed out of the spotlight in his last two games -- Tottenham's FA Cup win over Aston Villa and Stoke's league victory at Sunderland, but was still passed over for Premier League duty this weekend.

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