Mike Dean reflects on controversial podcast comments about refereeing

Former top-flight referee Mike Dean has faced backlash after revealing on a podcast that he would “joke about” during matches.

Dean expressed regret over his controversial remarks made earlier this week on the ‘Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party’ podcast, while maintaining that he always performed his duties “properly and professionally” throughout his 25-year career.

His statement caused a stir in the football community when he mentioned that he would “joke about” during games and would test how long he could remain in the centre circle without blowing his whistle.

These striking comments drew immediate criticism from former officials, raising concerns about the integrity of the game. However, Pro Ref, the rebranded PGMOL, has yet to respond publicly to Dean’s statements.

Source: The Irish News