Southampton to request Mike Dean and Lee Mason don’t referee future games after 9-0 loss

Southampton are unhappy at decisions that have gone against them in their last two league games

Following their 9-0 mauling by Manchester United on Tuesday night, Southampton are reportedly planning to submit a request that Mike Dean and Lee Mason are banned from officiating their games in the near future. Ralph Hasenhuttl's injury-ravaged squad were always in for a tough night at Old Trafford before a ball had even been kicked, but things became significantly more difficult for them after teenager Alex Jankewitz was shown a straight red card after just 79 seconds following a dangerous tackle on Scott McTominay. Though there were few complaints - if any at all - about Jankewitz's red, Southampton were unhappy at the decision to rule out a Che Adams goal for a marginal offside early in the second half. They were later angered when Dean, who refereed the game, showed Jan Bednarek a red card after awarding United a penalty when Anthony Martial went down in the area. Lee Mason, a fourth official for the game at Old Trafford, had taken charge of Southampton's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend. The Saints had been denied what had looked a certain penalty in the game when the ball struck Matty Cash's arm in the penalty area and later saw a Danny Ings goal ruled out for offside. According to the Daily Mail, Southampton are of the opinion that the controversies will make it difficult for either official to take charge of their games in the coming weeks and are set to hold discussions with the PGMOL. It seems unlikely that such a request will be approved, but Southampton may be more successful with their appeal against Bednarek's sending off.