English referee Mike Dean and his family have received death threats after making controversial decisions to fire two players in two games, prompting Tottenham Hotspur coach Jose Mourinho to sympathize with him.
Dean was criticized after Southampton defender Jan Bednarik was sent off during the team’s 9-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, and West Ham United midfielder Thomas Sochik during a goalless draw away with Fulham on Saturday.
He will not run matches in the Premier League next week.
A number of players - including Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Axel Tuanzibi and Chelsea player Reese James - have also been subjected to online abuse in recent weeks.
Mourinho said he contacted defender Ryan Sisignon - a loan to Hoffenheim - after he was targeted on social media last November.
Mourinho told reporters - before facing Everton away from home in
the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight - "We talk to the players if the situation escalates, of course I feel very sorry for Mike Dean and Tuanzibi and every person like them in the world, this week they were them, and there were others in the week." That preceded it, and if this situation continues, we will find others next week. "