The Special One rages against referee Mike Dean over Torres’ red card in London Derby

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could be the latest coach to face disciplinary action from the F.A. for his post-match comments about referee Mike Dean and the controversial red card ejection issued to striker Fernando Torres in Saturday’s heated London Derby against Tottenham.
Following the match, the Portuguese manager launched a verbal tirade against Dean for his decision to dismiss his underperforming Spanish international in the 81st minute of the Blues’ 1-1 tie against Spurs.

The incident has ignited the season’s first high-profile refereeing controversy, with Dean garnering several less than flattering reactions on social media including one from Canadian sports columnist Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star.

Oh God. Vertonghen totally sold that Torres red card. That was terrible.

— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) September 28, 2013

With Spurs under siege by the Blues and fouls escalating against them in the second half, Dean reached for his pocket and produced his second yellow for Torres after a series of exchanges between Torres and Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen.
The flashpoint occurred when the two players had become intertwined after a series of ‘unsportsmanlike’ exchanges throughout the day, with Vertonghen appearing to first reach out for a swipe at Torres’ face then grab his shirt and pull him to the ground in the final chapter of a less than convincing performance.
The two players had been ‘going at it’ for most of the match with Torres clipping the heels of Vertonghen midway through the first half, and the dirty play escalating from that point on.
It was more of a surprise to see only one of the two go off, as it was was a head-scratcher that Dean hadn’t reached for his pocket and produced red for both players much earlier in the match.
The pair forced Dean to halt the match on more than one occasion and as a result the contest never reached its full potential.

“It’s a disgrace,” Mourinho ranted after the match, refereeing to Vertonghen’s actions.
Not only did Dean seem to miss the boat on the final Torres-Vertonghen exchange, Blues fans were up in arms that Vertonghen was not dismissed himself for a reckless challenge on Ramires in the 64th minute.
Mourinho went further in his comments pleading with the disciplinary committee to instead suspend Vertonghen.

“I have to read perfectly well the rules to see if we can appeal with a second yellow card - I’m not so sure. If I was the boss of the committee I would give a one match suspension to the Tottenham defender and I wouldn’t give to Fernando.”

Dean didn’t appear to win any support from The Special One’s bitter rival and former assistant, Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas who agreed that the referee’s decision appeared too harsh.

No doubt Dean could gain some votes in our poll for worst referee in the EPL after Saturday’s match.
Soccer fans can expect the usual customary announcement of suspensions for Torres and also Mourinho for his hasty comments following the match.

Please cast your vote now below in our poll for worst referee in the English Premier League: