Mike Dean Admits to Playing In-Match Games During Refereeing Career
· Sports · BBC Sport, Telegraph India
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has revealed that he occasionally set himself personal challenges during matches to alleviate boredom. These included intentionally avoiding blowing his whistle for extended periods or remaining within the centre circle for up to 15 minutes. Dean stated these actions were intended as jokes during his officiating career, which spanned from 1985 until his retirement in 2023. Refereeing figures have reportedly dismissed these claims as unfounded, noting that such incidents would have occurred in the pre-VAR era. Dean previously faced criticism for his admission that he chose not to intervene in a 2022 Chelsea-Tottenham match to protect a colleague from scrutiny.
Why it matters
The admission raises questions about the professional conduct of top-tier football officials and the integrity of match management before the introduction of VAR technology.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.