Mike Dean's comment following the Rasmus Hojlund penalty incident confused Manchester United fans as the Premier League released a statement amid the controversy.
Man United fans thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Ruben Dias clumsily took out Hojlund in the second-half.
But match referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals.
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Moments after the incident between Hojlund and Dias, the Premier League issued a statement on social media, confirming it had been checked by VAR.
On X, they wrote: "The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Højlund and Dias was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming it was normal contact."
Speaking on commentary, Dean defended Taylor's decision not to award a spot-kick as he refuted Gary Neville's suggestion that it was a foul.
"Not in a game like this mate," he said on Sky Sports.
However, fans on social media didn't understand the former Premier League official's comment as they bemoaned the decision.
One X user questioned: "What does Mike Dean mean??? United can feel hard done by there, for me. Foot across Hojlund's body, doesn't touch the ball, and brings him down. Penalty."
A second said: "Sorry, but Mike Dean's reasoning that Dias' foul on Hojlund can't be given 'in a game like this' - what does the size/nature of the game have to do with anything?"
A third added: "What so the rules are different in some games? What a mess."
A fourth commented: "What the f**k does that mean ??? That’s a clear foul and a pen against Holjund ffs."
A fifth added: "That's a penalty on Hojlund all day, what does Mike Dean mean when he says 'not in a game like this'."
Another joked: "Hold on. Mike Dean just referred to a decision and said ‘it’s not enough in a game like this’. So he’s openly saying they give decisions based on who is and isn’t playing?"
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester City, Fan Reactions, Football, Mike Dean
Nasir Jabbar