Southampton have reportedly asked the Premier League not to appoint Mike Dean or Lee Mason to referee their upcoming fixtures following the heavy defeat by Manchester United on Tuesday.
Saints suffered a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of United at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening in a repeat of their famous result against Leicester City last season.
Young midfielder Alex Jankewitz was sent off after just two minutes for a dangerous high foot on Scott McTominay before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side ran riot.
Goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani and an own goal from Jan Bednarek put United 4-0 up at half-time before the game really unravelled after the break.
Further strikes from Anthony Martial and McTominay had the hosts 6-0 up when a controversial incident occurred.
Martial was played through on goal by Fernandes but took a tumble in the penalty area when Bednarek attempted to get back.
Dean awarded a penalty and VAR checked the decision before telling the referee to watch the replay on the pitchside monitor.
Despite minimal contact on Martial, Bednarek was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity and Fernandes stuck away the penalty to make it 7-0.
As well the Bednarek red card, which will mean he is suspended for Saturday’s trip to play Newcastle, Saints also had a consolation Che Adams goal chalked off by VAR for offside, before Martial and Daniel James rubbed further salt into the wounds with late goals.
Although manager Ralph Hasenhuttl did not blame Dean for his side’s woeful performance, the club have reportedly made a request to the Premier League over referees.
According to BBC Radio Solent, Saints have asked if Dean and Mason can not be appointed to officiate their upcoming fixtures.
Mason was the referee for Southampton’s 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa last week when the hosts were denied a penalty for a Matty Cash handball and had a late Danny Ings equaliser ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.
Southampton have now lost their last four Premier League matches following their shock 1-0 win over Liverpool on January 4, with nine first-team players out injured.
Despite his club’s request to the Premier League, Hasenhuttl attempted to play down Dean’s role in his side’s second 9-0 thrashing in 15 months.
"I don't know,” he said in his post-match press conference when asked about the refereeing decisions.
“I must have a feeling about this. I don't want to speak about the referee.
"Last week he was our VAR referee and this week he was on the pitch. He made his mark on the game but it is not about the referee. We did not do a good job."
