Off the PitchThe GuardianUnverified source· 3 Sept 2026
Mike Dean admits secret referee games
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean reveals he played secret challenges during matches.
Who
Mike Dean
What
Played secret games while refereeing
When
Before VAR era
Where
Premier League matches
What happened. Mike Dean, former Premier League referee, confessed on Jamie Vardy's podcast that he used to play secret games during matches, like trying to stay in the centre circle and going long stretches without blowing his whistle.
- Dean said he went 20-25 minutes without blowing the whistle in Premier League games.
- Referees' group is puzzled by his remarks, saying there's no evidence of such behaviour.
- Dean retired in 2022 after over two decades as a top-flight referee.
“We used to say, 'We'll kick off now. Right, see how long we can go without blowing a whistle.'”
— Mike Dean
Dean's claims may affect his reputation as a former top official.
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