A petition set up by an Arsenal fan calling for Mike Dean not to referee another Gunners match after Saturday’s controversial loss at Chelsea has so far attracted more than 55,000 signatures.
Jamie Cassar, from Waltham Abbey, started the protest at change.org after seeing Arsenal reduced to nine men during their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Most contentiously, defender Gabriel was red-carded for petulantly kicking Blues striker Diego Costa while the Spaniard stayed on the pitch, despite his role in the incident that was sparked by him pushing Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the face with his hands before catching him with a flailing arm.
The petition calls for the Football Association to “prevent” Dean from taking charge of any future Arsenal fixtures.
Questioning the official’s performance at the top level, it reads: “After many poor decisions that go against Arsenal when Mike Dean is refereeing the game, it is time that we get an inquiry to his ability to referee Arsenal games.”
The petition, which alleges Costa “made four straight red card incidents and was show one yellow card only”, also refers to other incidents involving Dean, including one where he apparently “celebrated for the opposition” when Spurs scored against Arsenal in 2012 (clearly he didn't).
If you feel Arsenal have a case and their fans aren’t just being bad losers, you can sign the petition here.
While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is unlikely to put his name to the petition, he was also clearly irked by Saturday’s events.
Wenger rebuked Dean for allowing the running feud between Costa and Gabriel to continue before the Arsenal defender saw red.
"He (Dean) let it go and I don't know why," Wenger said.
"I would like Mike Dean to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision.
"You have a fourth official, you have a linesman, the referee and they talk all the game. They can tell you and they know Diego Costa. He is not a newcomer.
"It is surprising. If I am a referee and I referee Diego Costa, I do not send somebody off quickly if he responds to it because you know he has been well provoked."
Wenger, though, did not condone Gabriel, insisting that even if a player is spat at he must keep his cool.
"You have to be above that," Wenger added. "To be professional, to me, is to deal with that. You can spit in my face and if it's in a game then I will not respond. I do not guarantee that outside of the game.
"The desire to win has to be above all of that."
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