Mike Dean claims he was ‘nervous’ and ‘scared’ of refereeing two certain Prem players as he gives an interview on retiring.
He’s officiating in the top flight for 22 years and reffed some of the biggest footballers the league has had to offer.
Dean came out with an honest admission, and said that Manchester United legend Roy Keane and Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira got him fearful before managing to overcome his fears.
After ’22 years at the top’ Mike Dean is preparing to retire from refereeing at the end of the season.
Watch the full interview on Football Focus, Saturday 2 April, 12:00 BST on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and the BBC Sport app.#BBCFootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 1, 2022
”I got in the Premier League in 2000 when I was 31, 32, and you had massive, big personality players the Keanes, people like that, Vieira, they were all around then,” he told BBC Sport.
“For me to come from the Football League to the Premier League and refereeing those players… from reffing League 1 and League 2 and the odd Championship game to the Premier League…
“It was just a massive step, and I was probably in awe of them as well to be fair.
“[I was] probably a bit nervous and a bit scared of making a decision.”
Dean added: “I think the players I’ve refereed over the years, some don’t like me and some do like me.
“But when I’ve given players a bit of stick back, or given them a one-liner back, and they don’t like it, then I will apologise five minutes later and say ‘sorry for what I said before’, and we move on and we shake hands.
“But I think players like the way I ref, because they know they can give me some stuff and I can give it them back, and they can get away with it within the boundaries that are allowed.”
Mike Dean also opened up on how players view him ahead of retirement, and by his own admission, it’s a mixed bag as he admits that ‘some do like me’ and ‘some don’t like me.’
“I think over 20 years, you earn a reputation of being a good referee,” he admitted on the latest episode of the BBC’s Football Focus.
“I think the players I’ve refereed over the years, some don’t like me, some do like me. Some don’t like the way I approach games, some do like the way I approach games. And when I give players a bit of stick back or give them a one-liner back, and they don’t like it, if they get upset about it, I will apologise five minutes later and say, ‘Look, sorry for what I said before, let’s just move on’, shake hands, that does happen.
“But I think that players like the way I ref. Players know they can give me some stuff and I can give it them back, and they can kind of get away with it, within the boundaries allowed. He then went on to clarify how the last five years of his career have shaped his final refereeing style that just like marmite, some people accept and some people just won’t tolerate it.
“I referee how I am,” he said. “I don’t go out and do it dead regimental, black and white. I’ve got a grey area in between when I referee, I don’t bend the rules, I do the rules as I’m supposed to do, but I can get a bit of leeway. I just love what I do. I just love it.”
The full interview will be released this upcoming Saturday when it’s broadcasted on the latest episode of Football Focus at 12:00pm.
Social media users gave their thoughts as Mike Dean claims he was ‘nervous’ and ‘scared’ of refereeing two certain Prem players in legends Roy Keane and Patrick Vieria…
🗣️ “We give up quite a lot as guys back home, we don’t really have an outside life.”
Mike Dean speaks about his decision to retire and says it’s time to move on after 22 years in the job. pic.twitter.com/yfCdFjz77e
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 1, 2022
@jackedwards1: Glad to see this very self centred man leave the sport. Horrendous ref
@B3Bell: It’s interesting the comments here, I wonder how many have actually played the game. When your in a big game you WANT a ref that is firm, fair and has some charisma, it has a huge effect. He’s respected by most of the 20 and the LMA. Don’t believe all you read.
@JonPabloAngel: You’re not allowed that sort of level headed opinion on Twitter mate!! So many fans lament the levels of officiating but it’s not until you watch refs further down the pyramid that you realise that the PL refs are elite. Such a hard job at every level.
@Faaabianskiii: Don’t need VAR to tell me this is the right decision
@morourkepics: So a referee can do an interview, who knew 😯
@utdRJ: That’s not how i imagined your voice would be 😄 , anyway All the best Mike Dean 👍
@Martin_Law: “Its all about me”
@lufc_gary: I’m glad he is retiring personally 👍
@liam_avfc2012: Goodbye to the guy that made the game about himself
@KierenW6: So they can come out an do an interview for this crap but can’t come out and explain their awful decisions in a game 🤣
@pseuderman: They’re not allowed to do post match interviews, tbf.
@Dan__H11: Glad to see the back of him 🖕🏼
@trisky79: this guy is a legend. period.
@Rainsbury_74: Wow, some of these comments 😳🤦🏼♂️ – No wonder the grassroots game is in a downward spiral – the lack of respect from some is 😳😳, yet sadly not unexpected from the uneducated – who know nothing about the refereeing world. 🙄🤷♂️🤦🏼♂️ @refsupportuk @TheRefereeForum
@ShadyGooner420: You earn respect and he hasn’t earned any
Nailed on for 2023 pic.twitter.com/t7tpCen74J
— Ginger Pirlo (@Ginger_Pirlo) April 1, 2022

You must be logged in to post a comment Login