Lee Mason dropped from Premier League duties after red card controversy

Under-fire Premier League referee Lee Mason has been relegated to fourth official for the next 10 days.

The experienced top-flight official has been taken out of the firing line following a string of controversial incidents.

Mason was criticised for not awarding Southampton what appeared to be a clear penalty in their defeat by Aston Villa and was then on VAR duty when Mike Dean controversially sent off West Ham's Tomas Soucek off against Fulham.

Dean asked to be stood down from the next round of Premier League fixtures and was not included on the match officials list for the forthcoming weekend.

Mason, however, will be involved in Saturday’s game between Leicester and Liverpool and next Wednesday’s rearranged clash between Everton and Manchester City.

But the official will only operate as the fourth official, rather than his familiar role of referee or VAR.

The news comes following Dean's decision to stand down from Premier League duty this weekend, after the 52-year-old and his family received death threats on social media.

Dean showed a red card to Soucek for catching Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow late on during Saturday's goalless draw at Fulham and also sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek in the midweek 9-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Both of the decisions – which followed Dean reviewing each incident on the pitchside monitor after consulting VAR – have since been overturned following an appeal.

Dean took charge of the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Leicester and Brighton on Wednesday night, but was missing from the Premier League list which was published on Tuesday afternoon.

Professional Game Match Officials Board managing director and former referee Mike Riley offered Dean the organisation's full support, while Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the threats to Dean and his family were "inexcusable" and called for "greater proactive intervention" from social media companies.

A number of Premier League managers came out in support of Dean.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder – who also revealed the club have called in police to deal with online abuse aimed at their players – said such acts are "cowardly, disgusting and inhumane".

"Mike Dean is an honourable referee and a decent guy, and these guys are doing their best, as the players and coaches are," said Wilder.

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    • "They don't deserve it. It's disgusting, the individuals need nailing and I wish I could nail them in my way, but I won't be allowed to.

    "We've all been subjected to the abuse and I think it's cowardly, disgusting and inhumane. We've all suffered and shouldn't have to. It isn't football and it isn't life. No-one should be able to get away with it."

    Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, hailed Dean's ability.

    He said: "It's really sad. I think Mike Dean is one of the best referees in the Premier League.

    "Sometimes you can have critics, but insults are not tolerable, full-stop. The people to take care of this are the police. Unacceptable is the right word."

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