I used to play in-match games as a laugh - Dean

WHAT HAPPENED
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has told Jamie Vardy’s podcast that, while officiating matches, he would sometimes set himself small personal tests to pass the time. He said examples included seeing how long he could avoid using his whistle and remaining inside the centre circle during play, at times going 20–25 minutes without blowing his whistle.

BBC Sport reports that referee insiders view those claims as unfounded and place any such behaviour in the pre-VAR era — before 2019 — when the professional refereeing body operated under different leadership.

KEY CONTEXT
Dean retired after a 28-year career in officiating. He began refereeing in 1985, moved into the Football League in 1995 and took charge in the Premier League from 2000. He stood down from on-field duties in 2022 and completed the 2022–23 season as a full-time VAR before retiring. During his career he handled major fixtures including the 2008 FA Cup final and the 2011 League Cup final at Wembley.

The BBC reminder of past controversy cites Dean’s role as VAR in August 2022, when he did not instruct the on-field referee to check a potential red-card incident involving Cristian Romero pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. Dean later said he chose not to send the referee to the monitor because he wished to spare colleague Anthony Taylor additional “grief”.

WHY IT MATTERS
Comments from a high-profile, recently retired official about treating matches like games risk undermining public confidence in refereeing standards, particularly given the sport’s emphasis on impartiality and procedure. The reaction from referee figures — who dispute Dean’s account and situate any such conduct before VAR’s introduction — highlights sensitivity within officiating circles to statements that suggest laxity or gamesmanship.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether senior refereeing bodies or Pro Referees make a formal comment or take any action in response to Dean’s podcast remarks (no such action has been reported by BBC Sport).
- Any further media appearances or explanations from Dean that clarify the context or intent behind his anecdotes.

KEY FACTS
- Mike Dean said on Jamie Vardy’s podcast he sometimes set mini-challenges while refereeing, such as not blowing his whistle for extended periods.
- BBC Sport reports referee figures consider those claims unfounded and link them to the era before VAR was introduced in 2019.
- Dean served as a professional official for 28 years; he started in 1985, joined the Football League in 1995 and the Premier League in 2000.
- He left on-field refereeing in 2022 and spent 2022–23 as a full-time VAR before retiring.
- Dean refereed the 2008 FA Cup final and the 2011 League Cup final; he is 58 years old.