Soccer-Former ref Dean says avoided VAR call to save official 'more grief'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Watford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 22, 2022 Referee Mike Dean blows his whistle. REUTERS/Tony Obrien/File photo

(Reuters) - Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said he decided not to alert a fellow official to a missed call via the VAR system during last season's fiery match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur because he wanted to spare him "more grief".

Dean, 55, was the Video Assistant Referee during a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last August when Spurs' Cristian Romero pulled Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella to the ground by his hair at a corner.