Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has found himself back in the spotlight after claiming he used to set himself challenges during games. He officiated top-flight matches from 2000 until 2022, while retiring from video assistant referee (VAR) duties a year later.
The 58-year-old, who dished out 114 red cards in the Premier League, became a well-known figure for several notable moments throughout his career. However, Dean has sparked fresh controversy by suggesting he played secret games while in charge of Premier League fixtures. Pro Ref have refused to comment on the matter but fans have criticised Dean’s actions.
"There used to be games that we used to have, as a laugh, we used to say, 'Right, we'll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a whistle,’” Dean said during an appearance on Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast. "Done that a few times in the Premier, before VAR obviously. Went 20–25 minutes without blowing a whistle a few times. Let it go, let it go, let it go.
"I used to do another thing in the Premier League. I used to stand in the centre circle and see how long I could stay in the centre circle before I had to leave. That was just me joking about. The lads used to be on the line saying 'you can't'. I said 'I'll try it'. I just used to run around but don't come out of it. Got about 15 minutes once in one game, without leaving the centre circle."
