Dean to ref Man United Prem Lge opener

adamhigginsuk
Aug 11, 2014
2 min read

In the middle: Dean will take control of United's first Premier League game of the 2014/15 season (Picture from Zimbio.com)

MIKE Dean has been confirmed as the referee for Manchester United's Premier League opener against Swansea City on Saturday.

The 46-year-old will take charge of the lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford, which is the first match of the new 2014-15 season.

The vastly experienced official will be assisted by Fifa linesmen Simon Bennett and Darren England with Michael Oliver assuming the role of fourth official.

The encounter - set to be screened live on BT Sport - will see the eagerly-awaited managerial debut in English football for United boss Louis van Gaal.

It is the Wirral whistler's second match of the domestic campaign so far after he refereed Bradford's 3-2 win over Coventry in League One last weekend as a late replacement for Andy D'Urso.

Dean has officiated over 300 matches in the top-flight since his promotion from the Football League in 2000 and spent a decade on the Fifa list until retiring from the position last year.

He has been in the middle for a number of high-profile games including the 2004 FA Community Shield, both the 2006 and 2009 Championship play-off finals, the 2008 FA Cup final and the 2011 League Cup final.

Following the retirement of leading official Howard Webb, Dean is expected to be higher in the selection process to be considered for the so-called big games.

The Heswall-based referee oversaw 38 games in all competitions last season - 26 of which came in the Premier League.

He brandished 131 yellow cards and seven red cards while awarding nine penalties in the process.

Dean is a surprise choice for the game having previously taken charge of United on the final day of last season in their 1-1 draw at Southampton.

It is the third time he will handle a fixture involving the two sides - the most recent clash was last season's FA Cup third round tie at Old Trafford in which he sent off United defender Fabio da Silva in a 2-1 Swansea victory.

The other came in the 2011/12 Premier League campaign in an incident-free 1-0 win for the Red Devils at the Liberty Stadium.

Saturday's match also signals the start of Swansea boss Garry Monk's permanent reign at the helm but United, widely expected to challenge again for Champions League football, will be the overwhelming favourites to make a winning start.

After refereeing at Old Trafford, Dean will assume electronic board duties for Monday night's clash between newly-promoted Burnley and Chelsea at Turf Moor.