Mike Dean reveals secret games he played during Premier League matches
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean says he spent years setting himself private challenges during top-flight games, including going 25 minutes without blowing his whistle and staying inside the centre circle for as long as possible. His remarks on a podcast this week have puzzled refereeing officials, who see no evidence that such behaviour ever occurred.
ByInfoBlaugrana
4 min read
Mike Dean, one of the most recognisable referees in the history of English football, has admitted that he used to set himself private challenges while officiating in the Premier League, including trying to remain inside the centre circle for as long as possible. The comments, made on a podcast this week, have left refereeing officials bemused, with no evidence to suggest that such conduct ever took place.
- Dean claims he once went 20 or 25 minutes without blowing his whistle after kick-off.
- He also says he managed to stay in the centre circle for about 15 minutes as a personal joke.
- Refereeing officials see it as highly improbable that a referee could remain there unnoticed.
- It is not Dean's first post-retirement controversy: he left his VAR role in 2023 over a mistake involving Anthony Taylor.
What Mike Dean said about his Premier League challenges
Dean spent more than two decades in the select group of English referees before retiring in 2022, followed by a short spell as a video assistant referee. Speaking on Jamie Vardy's podcast, the former official looked back with humour on habits from the pre-VAR era and explained exactly how his private games worked.
We used to say: 'We'll kick off now. Right, see how long we can go without blowing a whistle.' I did that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR obviously. I went 20, 25 minutes without blowing a whistle.
Dean added that he had another personal routine: staying in the centre circle for as long as possible before being forced to move with the play. By his account, he once managed around fifteen minutes in that position, something he described simply as joking about.
How refereeing officials reacted to Dean's claims
The remarks have not been well received inside professional refereeing circles. Within the organisation that manages English match officials, the suggestion that a referee could stand in the centre circle for fifteen minutes without players, coaches or assistant referees noticing such unusual positioning is treated with deep scepticism.
The episode places Dean back at the centre of discussion long after his final whistle. His post-retirement interviews have already generated more than one uncomfortable moment for the refereeing establishment.
The Chelsea-Tottenham incident that ended his VAR role
In 2023, Dean was removed from his position as a video assistant referee after failing to intervene in an error during a match between Tottenham and Chelsea. Anthony Taylor had been the on-field referee that evening, and Dean later described him as a friend.
Dean admitted he chose not to ask Taylor to review the incident on the pitchside monitor because he did not want to give him any more grief than he already had. The confession caused serious internal concerns and led directly to his departure from the VAR programme.
A referee career defined by personality and records
Throughout his time in the middle, Dean divided opinion. To many supporters, his flamboyant mannerisms and apparent awareness of the cameras made him as much of a talking point as the players themselves; terraces even sang that everything was about him.
Even so, his record marks him out as one of the most durable and respected officials in the English top flight. Over 22 seasons, he took charge of 561 matches and issued a record 114 red cards, a total no other Premier League referee has surpassed.
Frequently asked questions about Mike Dean and his refereeing challenges
Frequently asked questions
What secret challenges does Mike Dean say he did while refereeing?
Dean says he tried to go as long as possible without blowing his whistle after kick-off, at times reaching 20 or 25 minutes. He also claims he challenged himself to stay inside the centre circle, once managing around 15 minutes.
How did refereeing officials respond to Dean's claims?
They were puzzled by the remarks and view the idea of a referee staying in the centre circle for 15 minutes unnoticed as highly improbable. No evidence has emerged that such behaviour ever took place.
Why did Mike Dean stop working as a VAR?
Dean was stood down in 2023 after failing to intervene in an error during a Tottenham-Chelsea match refereed by Anthony Taylor. He later said he did not ask Taylor to review the decision because they were friends and he did not want to cause him more trouble.