Former Premier League referee Mike Dean is under scrutiny after claiming he set himself personal challenges during top-flight matches. Dean officiated in the Premier League from 2000 to 2022 and retired from VAR duties a year later. The 58-year-old, who issued 114 red cards in the league, has sparked criticism from fans following his comments on Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast.
Dean admitted to playing secret games during matches, including seeing how long he could go without blowing his whistle. "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,'" he said. "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."
He also revealed another self-imposed challenge: "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." Pro Ref have declined to comment on the matter.
Clashes with Managers
Dean's career included a notable row with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. In early 2018, Wenger received a three-game ban and a £40,000 fine for confronting Dean after a late penalty awarded to West Bromwich Albion in a 1-1 draw on New Year's Eve. In a written testimony to the FA, Dean recalled: "He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying: 'You're not honest' on numerous occasions. I replied: 'So you're calling me a cheat'. He replied: 'I maintain what I say, you're not honest'. He then said: 'You've done this to us many times before, you're supposed to be professional, you're a disgrace'."
Dean later admitted the pair never got along. Speaking on The Overlap, he said: "I never got on with Arsene Wenger and I don't know what it was. Whether it was every time I reffed them they lost, I don't know, but I just couldn't get on with him and likewise."
In February 2019, Mauricio Pochettino squared up to Dean after Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Burnley. The Spurs boss was pulled away by Burnley defender Phil Bardsley and later received a two-match ban and a £10,000 fine. Dean's report stated: "Mr Pochettino acted in a very irresponsible and aggresive (sic) manner. He wouldn't stop saying 'you know what you are, you know what you are'. I then said on numerous occasions to go away, at least 10 times, and he wouldn't get out of my personnel (sic) space and then aggresively (sic) pointed his finger just a few inches from my face."
West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic was sent off at half-time in September 2020 after berating Dean. The Baggies were 2-1 down at the break, with Everton's James Rodriguez scoring in first-half injury time and a West Brom defender sent off for violent conduct moments later.
VAR Controversy and On-Field Decisions
Dean chose not to correct a mistake while working as VAR during a 2-2 draw between Tottenham and Chelsea in August 2022. Chelsea argued that Cristian Romero should have been punished for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair. Dean admitted he refused to send referee Anthony Taylor to review the incident, saying on Simon Jordan's Up Front podcast in 2023: "I missed the stupid hair pull at Chelsea versus Tottenham which was pathetic from my point of view. It's one of them where if I had my time again, what would I do? I'd send Anthony [Taylor] to the screen. I think I knew if I did send him to the screen… he's cautioned both managers, he's had a hell of a game, it's been such a tough game end to end. I said to Anthony afterwards: 'I just didn't want to send you to the screen after what has gone on in the game'. I didn't want to send him up because he is a mate as well as a referee." He was dropped from VAR duties for one round of games.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp took aim at Dean while the retired official worked as a Sky Sports pundit. After a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in March 2024, where Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister, Klopp said: "You will find people... I think, did you employ Mike Dean, is he working for Sky? Congratulations, that's a great appointment by the way. He will find something, and all the others as well. It's a penalty, for all football people on the planet it's penalty. If you think it's not one, then maybe you are not a football person."
Dean caused uproar in February 2021 when he sent off West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek against Fulham. The red card, shown after Soucek's elbow made contact with Aleksandar Mitrovic, was later overturned. Dean received death threats and his family were targeted on social media. "It was hard. My daughter is football-mad, a season-ticket holder at Tranmere," he told The Athletic. "She was 24 at the time but she couldn't get her head around the fact I'd made a decision on the pitch and, as a result, I was getting all these threats."
Celebrations and Fan Moments
Dean was famously spotted celebrating after Moussa Dembele scored for Spurs against Aston Villa in 2015. He later explained: "I wouldn't say it was a goal celebration, I was celebrating an advantage," he told BBC Sport in 2020. "As you can see, but I kind of got carried away with the whole day really. It is a foul and I've played on, probably shouldn't have put my arms out but it was good."
In 2019, the Tranmere Rovers fan was seen in the away end during the League Two play-offs against Forest Green Rovers. The camera panned to Dean during the 1-1 draw, which saw Tranmere reach Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win. At full-time, Dean was spotted punching the air on the terraces upon reaching the play-off final.
