Slaven Bilic sent off for furious on-field protests at Mike Dean in West Brom’s defeat at Everton
Mike Dean #MikeDean
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic was shown a red card by referee Mike Dean at half-time during his side’s heavy defeat against Everton.
Bilic was left angered by the officiating surrounding Kieran Gibbs’ sending off following an off the ball incident with James Rodriguez, and remonstrated with Dean as the players left the field.
But despite his furious outburst, and walking on to the pitch to confront Dean at the break – which is against the rules of play – BT Sport pundits Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves have defended him and believed he had every right to question the man in the middle over his decision-making.
Slaven Bilic was shown a red card for a furious argument at half-time in the loss at Everton
West Brom’s boss entered the field of play at the break to discuss an incident with Mike Dean
Bilic was irked over the officiating surrounding Kieran Gibbs’ sending off for violent conduct
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Slaven Bilic: Check the foul, check the red card. Now it’s done, you could also kill us.
Mike Dean: Go away, you go away.
Slaven Bilic: So I can’t talk to you? I can’t talk to you?
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After the game, Cole even said: ‘As a referee you need to understand human beings. He should have said: “Look Slaven, I’m sorry, I can’t talk now you need to go away” and his whole demeanour would’ve changed. But instead he’s tried to give him the cold shoulder and shrug him off and walk away. I personally blame Mike Dean for that situation.’
The Premier League newcomers had given a superb account of themselves during the first half at Goodison Park, but found themselves losing 2-1 after James Rodriguez’s first goal in English football.
Gibbs soon allowed his frustrations to get the better of him, and was caught on camera pushing the Colombian playmaker in the face while the action continued around them.
His red card visibly angered Bilic on the touchline, and the 52-year-old headed straight over to Dean to openly air his disagreement with the punishment.
‘Check the foul, check the red card. Now it’s done, you could also kill us,’ Bilic could be heard insisting on camera.
‘Go away, you go away,’ Dean replied, pointing at another irked member of Bilic’s coaching staff.
‘So I can’t talk to you? I can’t talk to you?’ Bilic asked as the three officials headed towards the tunnel.
Bilic was sent to the stands after asking referee Dean to check the foul on James Rodriguez
Bilic may face a touchline ban after the argument, and was restricted to watching on from the stands – while wearing a face mask – as Everton eased to a 5-2 win.
Hargreaves and Cole, however, have backed the tactician’s right to protest.
‘I think he has the right to ask the question,’ Hargreaves insisted on BT Sport. ‘He’s saying check the foul, check the red card.
‘He didn’t swear, he wasn’t rude. I think he just wanted to know. I’m not sure he deserved to be sent off.’
Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole have defended Bilic’s right to protest the decision on BT Sport
Cole added: ‘I think Mike lost his composure a little bit there but he’s well within his rights to do it. Passionate game, Slaven just coming up.
‘You can understand the frustration, he’s set his team up so well in that first half and in three incidents, it’s killed him.’
Dominic Calvert-Lewin plundered two more goals after the break to complete a stellar hat-trick, leaving West Brom winless after their first two fixtures back in the top flight.
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