MIKE DEAN HAS been demoted to the Championship following fierce criticism of his officiating over the festive period.
The referee endured an eventful December, with his decisions to send off Sofiane Feghouli during West Ham’s clash with Manchester United, and his reticence to dismiss Ross Barkley during the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park also came under scrutiny.
While Dean has since refereed an FA Cup fixture between Tottenham and Aston Villa, and Stoke City’s victory over Sunderland, the official has been ordered to take a step away from the Premier League for a weekend.
Dean will be the man in the middle as Leeds United take on Barnsley in a Yorkshire derby.
Leeds are currently third in the Championship table, seven points behind leaders Newcastle, while Barnsley lie 10th.
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