Former referee Mike Dean admits to playing 'secret games' during Premier League matches

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Dean[/a] retired from on-field refereeing in 2022 before stepping down from his role as a video assistant referee the following year, [/p][p]This confirmed the end of his 22-year career in which he officiated 553 Premier League matches and became one of most widely known officials in the English game. [/p][h2]Dean causes major controversy[/h2][p]However, despite being a decorated and respected official, Dean spoke on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vardy-jamie/fP3OohgD/"]Jamie Vardy[/a]’s [i][b]Having a Party[/b][/i] podcast this week about how he used to commit what many fans are calling corruption. [/p][p][b]"There used to be games that we used to have, as a laugh, we used to say, 'Right, we'll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a whistle,” Dean said. [/b][/p][p][b]"I've done that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR, obviously. Went 20-25 minutes without blowing a whistle - 'Let it go, let it go, let it go.'" [/b][/p][h2]Dean admits he was "just joking about"[/h2][p]Dean then revealed he played a second game where he would challenge himself to stay inside the centre circle for as long as possible, a game that may be funny to him but it would almost certainly obstruct his view of the game. [/p][p][b]"I used to do another thing in the Premier League," he said. "I used to stand in the centre circle and see how long I could stay in the centre circle before I had to leave. That was just me joking about. [/b][/p][p]"The lads used to be on the line saying, 'You can't.' I said 'I'll try it'.[/p][p]"You'd just, like, kind of run round, kind of go... But don't come out of it (the centre circle). I got about 15 minutes once, in one game, without leaving the centre circle."[/p][p]This is just the latest piece of controversy for Dean. Back in 2022 he did not send [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taylor-anthony/djBwqEZc/"]Anthony Taylor[/a] to the monitor over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Cristian Romero[/a] pulling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucurella-marc/QTynbZd3/"]Marc Cucurella[/a]’s hair, saying Taylor was “a mate” and he did not want to give him “any more grief".[/p][p]Dean acknowledged this was a major mistake, but his latest comments have landed him in hot water. With supporters criticising him on social media, wondering why he and the podcast find it funny that a top referee is admitting to what they feel is corruption.[/p][embed guid="7b000c7a-cdc5-45ad-b5f5-be7ba92fcb40" url="https://x.com/HLTCO/status/2095392625373159557?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/agbonlahor-gabriel/hfZnghNr/"]Agbonlahor[/a] doesn't hold back on Dean[/h2][p]Former Premier League forward Gabriel Agbonlahor called Dean a "prat" and said: "You're not funny, Mike Dean, and that sums you up. What do you mean? You're playing on when it's a foul. You're throwing yourself under the bus," Agbonlahor said on [i][b]talkSPORT[/b][/i].[/p][p][b]"I don't find that funny at all. Don't blow your whistle during the game. Are you a child? It doesn't sit right with me at all. You managed a lot of games that I played in.[/b][/p][p][b]"I didn't get on with Mike Dean at all. It's good that referees give it back to players, but he had that arrogance about him. One word to describe him, I would say, is a prat.[/b][/p][p]"Referees are up and down so they don't miss anything. You might have missed penalties or free kicks or last man taking out a player because you want to joke and stay in the centre circle.[/p][p]"Did you have a good giggle afterwards? Was it really funny, Mike? That sums up your personality. Embarrassing.[/p][p]"I believe him. He didn't look like he was joking. I'm not going to have him come out and say he was joking; he said that with heart. He's got a lot to answer."[/p][p][b]"Did you have a good giggle afterwards? Was it really funny, Mike? That sums up your personality. Embarrassing."[/b][/p]