Mike Dean receives backlash after admitting to playing secret games during Prem matches

Mike Dean receives backlash after admitting to playing secret games during Prem matches before the introduction of VAR.

Jamie Vardy and Josh James look on, with stunned laughter, then joke about it, with Mike Dean claimed he was trying to enjoy himself.

A snippet from the interview was posted onto Twitter, and has since gone on to get millions of views, his comments sparking outrage with fans.

MIKE DEAN’S SECRET PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES

Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean admits he used to play secret mini-games on the pitch while officiating top-flight matches.

Mike Dean: “We used to say, ‘Right, we’ll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a… pic.twitter.com/7ITA3Z3t7O

— BoiBoi (@ToniBoiBoi) September 2, 2026

Mike Dean: “There used to be games that we used to have “We used to say, ‘Right, we’ll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a whistle.’ A few times, let it go, let it go, let it go.

“I’ve done that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR obviously. Went 20–25 minutes without blowing a whistle a few times.”

“I used to do another thing with me on the Premier League. 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.

“But the lads used to be on the line and say, can’t, I say I’ll try it. See how, I used to just like kind of run that, kind of go and don’t come out of it… got about 15 minutes once in one game without leaving the centre circle.”

Josh James: “Easy money”

Jamie Vardy: “Playing his own little games whilst the game is going on, that’s brilliant!”

Josh James: “Premier League at stakes, Champions League final or something.

Mike Dean: “Got to enjoy yourself.”

Jamie Vardy: Why didn’t they qualify? Mike’s fault. Stood in the centre circle.

Mike Dean: “Typical ref…”

The description on the YouTube video read: “Former Premier League referee Mike Dean and comedian Josh James join Jamie Vardy for a hilarious look back at Mike’s career at the heart of English football.

“The guys chat about their football roots, from Josh’s love of Spurs to Mike’s lifelong support of Tranmere Rovers – including whether Mike gives referees as much stick from the stands as he used to get on the pitch…

“Mike spills the tea on fellow referee Mark Clattenburg, reacts to some of his funniest and most iconic Premier League moments, and reveals the secret mini-games referees used to play with each other during matches.”

 

As mentioned, Mike Dean receives backlash after admitting to playing secret games during Prem matches…

@HLTCO: “That was just me joking about.” Yeah, not like your job was to officiate games properly. Mike Dean has said stuff like this before, Clattenburg has openly talked about letting teams self-destruct too. They seem to think it makes them sound like lads. Baffling mentality.

@bob__spurs: You have to think Sky have a lot to answer for on this as well bringing a ref into the studio or commentary box and making them effectively pundits

@Daniel__Nash: the conspiracy theories are already at an all time high, now whenever there is a questionable decision people will be wondering if they are being screwed over as part of a ref’s silly little game. Excellent way to try and restore confidence.

@SonOfChelsea: Only good thing about PGMOL refs retiring and beginning to talk is they just expose how bad the culture is, whilst clearly thinking all of this is hilarious.

@TaintlessRed: Clubs and fans ask for consistency but these refs are out there playing mini-games for fun rather than being entirely focused on making the best decisions possible. Every time one retires and gives interviews even “top” refs like Webb and Clattenberg they say stuff like this.

@TheEuroFE: How about, and I might be going out on a limb here, concentrating on officiating the matches properly rather than playing silly little games with yourself. Mike Dean thinking this makes him sound like a right lad is baffling to me.

@TheVillaPolls: Playing mini games when officiating… They wonder why they get so much stick when they are pissing about with little games. Do your job!

@DylanCFC_: What’s fascinating is Mike Dean telling such stories like when ex pro footballers tell theirs. Difference is refs aren’t respected like ex pros, stories like this only makes it worse for refs of today. More scrutiny, more pressure. Astonishing really

@Rory_Talks_Ball: Mike Dean going on podcasts must be PGMOL’s worst nightmare 🤣 Admitting he used to play mini games with himself during matches that actively controlled his decision making. Genuinely absurd 🤦‍♂️🤣

@gpenney2009: It was always the Mike Dean show now its confirmed

@glare_goat_tall: My Dad was a ref back in the day, doing lower level non-league and the odd (very early) FA Cup game. He had so much integrity and took it seriously, would never have done anything like this or treated it as a joke. How do you command respect doing things like this??

@FootyAccums: Nothing to see here… Just Mike Dean admitting him and ‘the lads’ in PGMOL would play games for a laugh during official Premier League fixtures. Just shows how big their egos are, that him & Clattenburg can just talk openly about stuff like this 🤦‍♂️