Mike Dean breaks silence after bombshell ‘mini-games’ confession as Premier League clubs open probes into former referee

MIKE DEAN has broken his silence on his claims that he played “games” while officiating Premier League matches – after top-flight sides opened their own internal probes. The former referee, 58, made the sensational revelations during an appearance on Jamie Vardy’s podcast earlier this week. Mike Dean has broken his silence after claiming that he played mini ‘games’ while officiating Premier League matches Credit: http://www.youtube.com/@thevardyparty The statements caused alarm among fans, clubs and at Pro Ref Credit: Getty Dean said that during his professional days as a pre-VAR official, he would take part in challenges, such as seeing how long he could go without having to blow his whistle. Now he has reaffirmed that he “always applied the Laws of the Game” accurately, regardless of any games he might have played. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! In a statement released on his Instagram account, Dean wrote: “Throughout my 25 years as a professional referee, I have always applied the laws of the game to the best of my ability. “My approach as a referee was always to allow the game to flow and whenever possible I preferred to apply a high threshold for contact which the players liked. “However, if I saw a foul challenge that needed me to take the appropriate action I would give it from the correct position. “At no stage was it my intention to question, criticise or undermine the integrity of refereeing in this country. “I have always respected the profession and the responsibility that comes with being a referee.” Dean’s original claims revealed multiple different mini games the official said he would play, and he even boasted that he once made it as long as 25 minutes without blowing his whistle. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The official has moved into a media career since hanging up his whistle Credit: Alamy He told The Vardy Party Podcast: “There used to be games we’d have, as a laugh. “We used to say, ‘we’ll kick-off now, right, see how long we can go without blowing a whistle’. “I done that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR obviously. Went 20, 25 minutes without blowing a whistle. “Few times… let it go, let it go, let it go.” Dean also referenced another game in which he attempted to remain in the centre circle for as long as possible. He added: “I used to do another thing in the Premier League. I used to stand in the centre circle, see how long I could stay in the centre circle, before I had to leave. “That was just me, joking about. The lads that used to be on the line would say ‘you can’t’. “I got to about 15 minutes once, in one game.” The bombshell claims caused uproar among supporters and clubs, who began scouring pre-VAR clashes for any evidence of the antics in question. A number of top club chiefs have asked their video match analyst teams if they can find any evidence of misconduct. Premier League sides have opened their own investigation following Dean’s shock claims Credit: PA The ex-ref spoke out on Jamie Vardy’s podcast Credit: youtube But SunSport understands the reaction from officiating chiefs at Pro Ref was immediately one of deep scepticism. Dean’s apparent admissions brought shock, anger and disbelief at the refs’ organisation, where he is felt to have fallen into the trap of becoming little more than an attention-seeker. Pro Ref does not believe there is anything to back up the comments, with some convinced Dean was simply playing to the audience. Since hanging up the whistle, Dean has embarked on a career in the media, and is a regular fixture on Soccer Saturday. And some former refs seemed to feel he had leant too far towards his new life in showbiz with the comments. SunSport’s whistleblower and Dean’s former colleague Mark Halsey dismissed the boasts – which referred back to the pre-VAR era – as “nonsense” and accused the former ref of being on an “ego trip”. Another ex-top flight ref, Graham Scott, described Dean’s claims as “dispiriting clickbait”. 3 comments3