Premiership referee suspended

PREMIERSHIP referee Mike Dean is the subject of an internal investigation from his bosses into claims he abused his profile for financial gain as the head of a horseracing operation.

The 36-year-old has been suspended from his duties by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, the body responsible for providing referees to top-flight matches.

The crux of the investigation would appear to centre on whether Dean has played on his status as a well-known figure in football to gain a financial advantage in racing.