Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Mike Dean Reveals Secret Games During Premier League Matches
Mike Dean was a football referee in England for 22 years.
He said he sometimes made private challenges for himself during matches.
One challenge was seeing how long he could go without blowing his whistle.
He said he once lasted 20 to 25 minutes.
Another challenge was staying in the centre circle as long as possible.
He said he managed about 15 minutes once.
Pro Ref said that would probably have been noticed by other people.
Dean retired from refereeing in 2022 after working hundreds of Premier League matches.
Former referee Mike Dean said he sometimes played secret games while officiating Premier League matches.
He claimed he once went 20 to 25 minutes without blowing his whistle.
Dean also said he stayed in the centre circle for about 15 minutes.
The refereeing organization Pro Ref called the centre-circle claim highly improbable without detection.
Dean officiated 553 top-flight matches and issued a record 114 red cards.
- Who
- Former Premier League referee Mike Dean and the professional refereeing organization Pro Ref.
- What
- Dean revealed that he sometimes tried secret challenges during matches, including avoiding whistle blows and remaining in the centre circle.
- When
- Dean discussed the claims earlier this week; he retired from refereeing in 2022.
- Where
- During Premier League matches in England, before the video assistant referee era.
- Why
- Dean said the activities were joking challenges he undertook while officiating.
Dean's Account
Pro Ref's Response
Whether the centre-circle challenge was possible
Dean's Account
Mike Dean said he once remained in the centre circle for about 15 minutes as a joke.
Pro Ref's Response
Pro Ref officials said staying there that long without being noticed was highly improbable, even before video assistant referees.
Going without a whistle
Dean's Account
Dean said he and other referees sometimes challenged themselves to see how long they could go without blowing the whistle, claiming he reached 20 to 25 minutes.
Pro Ref's Response
The reports do not provide a separate Pro Ref response to the whistle-blowing claim.
- Refereeing career
- Mike Dean officiated for 22 years and retired in 2022.
- Premier League matches
- He officiated 553 matches in England's top flight.
- Red cards
- He issued a record 114 red cards, according to the reports.
- Whistle challenge
- Dean said he once went 20 to 25 minutes without blowing his whistle.
- Centre-circle challenge
- Dean said he stayed in the centre circle for about 15 minutes on one occasion.
- Professional response
- Pro Ref officials described the centre-circle claim as highly improbable without being noticed.
- Podcast appearance
- Dean made the comments on Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast.