The FA has released Mike Dean’s full report on the incident that saw Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino receive a two-game ban after last month’s defeat at Burnley.
Pochettino reacted angrily when Burnley were given a corner following a 50/50 challenge involving Jan Vertonghen. The hosts scored from the corner through Chris Wood and went on to win 2-1.
The Spurs boss publicly apologised to Dean in a press conference a few days after the incident but was still handed a two-game touchline ban and a £10,000 fine.
Upon discovering the FA’s decision, Pochettino said he was “in shock” and suggested Tottenham would appeal against the punishment in an attempt to reduce it to just one match in the stands.
The FA have now revealed the details of their decision making process, releasing Dean’s pre-match report in full – read it below (via BBC Sport).
“At the conclusion of the game I was approached on the field of play by the Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino and some members of his coaching staff, including first-team coach Jesus Perez.
“Mr Pochettino acted in a very irresponsible and aggressive manner. He wouldn’t stop saying ‘you know what you are, you know what you are”‘. I asked him to explain and he repeated ‘you know what you are’.
“I then said on numerous occasions to go away at least 10 times and he wouldn’t get out of my personal space and then aggressively pointed his finger just a few inches from my face, again saying ‘you know what you are’.
“Mr Pochettino then left me alone and left the field of play. When I reached the tunnel he was waiting at the top of the stairs again saying ‘you know what you are’ and had to be escorted to the dressing room by security staff from Burnley.”
The FA went on to reveal Pochettino was initially going to be banned from the touchline for three games, but his “previous exemplary record” saw it reduced to two.
English football’s governing body added the following: “While the words used are not the worst, the choice of phrase ‘you know what you are’ was used in an on-field outburst, following the conclusion of the game, that lasted for 40 seconds, during which Pochettino was, at times, very close to Mr Dean and face-to-face.
“Pochettino’s position is then aggravated by the fact of the second charge, which involved him waiting for Mr Dean in the tunnel area to resume his unacceptable comments.
“The commission finds as a fact that [Pochettino] did this quite deliberately.
“Such behaviour, at the elite level of English football, tarnishes the image of the game.
“Whatever decisions, and indeed whatever mistakes, may be made during a match, match officials are entitled to be treated professionally and with respect.
“They are not ‘fair game’ for a frustrated manager, or player, to vent their frustrations at.”
Pochettino has already served the first game of his two-match ban, watching his side lose 2-1 at Southampton on Saturday. It looks like he will be in the stands again when Spurs face Liverpool at Anfield at the end of the month.
It could be argued that bent refereeing “tarnishes the image of the game” but honestly they don’t actually care about that at all.
there is no doubt Mike Deane is a liar.
It shows clearly MP walking away from Deane until Deane said something.
It he hadn’t of said anything we wouldn’t have had this situation.
Pochettino has been stitched up big time by Mike Deane. There is no mention in the report about what Mike Deane said to Pochettino to make him and Perez angry.
Surely Pochettino should reveal the truth now he has been stitched up like this. Deane shouldn’t get away with it. This arrogant referee is clearly on a power trip and thinks he is untouchable.