Ex-referee Mike Dean defends comments about 'games' played during matches

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has faced significant criticism after comments he made on Jamie Vardy's podcast, in which he revealed that he used to devise small personal challenges to occupy himself during matches. Dean said he and colleagues would sometimes see how long they could go without blowing the whistle, or would try to stay standing still in the centre circle. He recalled going 20 to 25 minutes without blowing his whistle during Premier League games before the introduction of VAR.

The 58-year-old has drawn sharp criticism for the remarks. Fellow former Premier League referee Mark Halsey told BBC Sport that such revelations had added extra pressure on today's officials.

Dean's response

On Friday, Dean posted a statement to his Instagram story. While he did not retract his original claim, he sought to provide context. He said that throughout his 25 years as a professional referee, he always applied the Laws of the Game to the best of his ability, aiming to let matches flow and, where possible, applying a high threshold for contact — an approach he said players appreciated. However, he added that whenever he spotted a foul challenge requiring action, he would make the call from the correct position on the pitch.

Dean stressed that at no point did he intend to question, criticise or undermine the integrity of refereeing in the country, and that he has always respected the profession and the responsibility it carries. Whether there is concrete evidence of specific matches in which Dean played these self-devised games remains an open question.