Controversial referee decisions were right, claims Clattenburg

FORMER Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes Mike Dean got the two major decisions in Newcastle’s defeat to West Brom correct.

Rafa Benitez was left seething after Dean showed DeAndre Yedlin a straight red card after he was deemed to be the last man when he tugged back Wolves forward Diogo Jota. Some fans felt Jamaal Lascelles, who was covering Yedlin, could well have prevented Jota being in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Dean also failed to award a penalty and punishment for Wolves defender Willy Boly after he elbowed Ayoze Perez in the penalty area.

Perez blasted Boly at full-time while Benitez delivered an angry press conference where he demanded the instant installation of VAR in the Premier League.

He said: “Losing is always something you don’t expect, but in a game you were controlling and we were doing enough at least to create chances and have the possibility to win the game, then you see these incidents, the red card and afterwards the elbow in the face of Ayoze, which is a penalty and a red card.

“The summary is you lose three points and you see the table and you have to keep fighting in very difficult circumstances. I saw the replay and we need VAR right now.”

However, former referee Clattenburg – who officiated in Champions League finals and is a Newcastle fan – believes his former colleague got both decisions correct.

Clattenburg said: “In these situations, referees will have a picture