Former Premier League referee Mike Dean, who officiated more than 550 matches, has stated that he used to set himself mini-challenges during games "as a laugh". Appearing on Jamie Vardy's podcast, Dean explained that he would test how long he could go without blowing his whistle or how long he could stay inside the centre circle.
Dean recalled doing this a few times in the Premier League before the introduction of VAR, once managing to go 20 to 25 minutes without a whistle. He also mentioned standing in the centre circle to see how long he could remain there before leaving, noting that he achieved about 15 minutes on one occasion.
Refereeing figures consider Dean's claims to be unfounded and historical, dating back to the pre-VAR era under different leadership. This is not the first time Dean has courted controversy with his media remarks, having previously faced heavy criticism for failing to send the referee to the monitor during a 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham in August 2022.
After retiring from on-field officiating in 2022 and spending a season as a full-time VAR, Dean admitted he did not intervene in the Tottenham incident to protect his friend and fellow referee Anthony Taylor from extra grief. While refereeing bosses view Dean as an old-school figure from a less progressive era, his candid revelations have often caused damage to the reputation and perceived professionalism of officials.
