United 9-0 Southampton: Saints request Mike Dean ban after controversial decision in Man Utd demolition

Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Southampton - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 2, 2021. Referee Mike Dean checks VAR. [Pool via REUTERS/Lindsey Parnaby]

Southampton have reportedly asked the Premier League to ban controversial referee Mike Dean after questionable decisions he made on Tuesday, according to Radio Solent.

Mike Dean took charge of the Saints' fixture at Old Trafford as they were demolished 9-0 by red-hot Manchester United.

Dean red-carded Southampton midfielder Alexandre Jankewitz after just two minutes, a decision that did not raise eyebrows.

Dean’s second red card decision, however, elicited mixed reactions after United striker Anthony Martial went down in the box under close pressure from Saints' defender Jan Bednarek.

Video footage at the Theatre of Dreams showed Martial had already begun tumbling to the turf before minimal contact was made in a clear dive.

After consulting the VAR and checking the side monitor, Dean sent off Bednarek and awarded a penalty that was slotted home comfortably by playmaker Bruno Fernandes.

Southampton's Jan Bednarek reacts after being sent off by referee Mike Dean. [Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble]

And according to Radio Solent, Southampton have now asked the Premier League that neither Dean nor Lee Mason be appointed as the designated official for any of their matches in the near future.

Speaking after the humiliation, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "Jan Bednarek does not kill him [Martial] but I do not want to speak about the referee.”

Substitute Martial scored twice for United in a result that equalled the club's 1995 9-0 win over Ipswich Town and Southampton's defeat by the same scoreline at home to Leicester City in 2019.

Southampton's Alexandre Jankewitz is shown a red card by referee Mike Dean for a foul on Manchester United's Scott McTominay. [Pool via REUTERS/Laurence Griffiths]