8 controversial Mike Dean moments from row with Arsenal manager to celebrating goal

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has found himself back in the spotlight after claiming he used to set himself challenges during games. He officiated top-flight matches from 2000 until 2022, while retiring from video assistant referee (VAR) duties a year later.

The 58-year-old, who dished out 114 red cards in the Premier League, became a well-known figure for several notable moments throughout his career. However, Dean has sparked fresh controversy by suggesting he played secret games while in charge of Premier League fixtures. Pro Ref have refused to comment on the matter but fans have criticised Dean’s actions.

"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 during an appearance on Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast. "Done that a few times in the Premier, before VAR obviously. Went 20–25 minutes without blowing a whistle a few times. Let it go, let it go, let it go.

"I used to do another thing in 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. The lads used to be on the line saying 'you can't'. I said 'I'll try it'. I just used to run around but don't come out of it. Got about 15 minutes once in one game, without leaving the centre circle."

Here, Mirror Football looks at some of Mike Dean’s other controversial moments.

Dean clashed with long-serving Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger during his refereeing career. The Gunners boss was handed a three-game ban and fined £40,000 in early 2018 for confronting the official following a late penalty he had awarded to West Bromwich Albion during a 1-1 draw on New Year’s Eve.

Recalling the incident in a written testimony to the FA, Dean said: "He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying: 'You're not honest' on numerous occasions.

"I replied: 'So you're calling me a cheat'. He replied: 'I maintain what I say, you're not honest'. He then said: 'You've done this to us many times before, you're supposed to be professional, you're a disgrace'. He was then ushered out of the room by the West Brom safety officer."

Dean has since conceded that the pair never saw eye to eye. In an appearance on The Overlap, the retired ref said: "I never got on with Arsene Wenger and I don’t know what it was. Whether it was every time I reffed them they lost, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t get on with him and likewise."

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Dean chose not to correct a mistake while working as a VAR during a 2-2 draw between Tottenham and Chelsea in August 2022. Chelsea argued that Spurs defender Cristian Romero should have been punished for pulling Marc Cucrella’s hair. Dean later admitted that he refused to send referee Anthony Taylor to review the incident as the official had endured a tough game. He was dropped from VAR duties for one round of games.

"I missed the stupid hair pull at Chelsea versus Tottenham which was pathetic from my point of view," Dean said on Simon Jordan's Up Front podcast in 2023. "It's one of them where if I had my time again, what would I do? I'd send Anthony [Taylor] to the screen. I think I knew if I did send him to the screen… he's cautioned both managers, he's had a hell of a game, it's been such a tough game end to end.

"I said to Anthony afterwards: 'I just didn't want to send you to the screen after what has gone on in the game'. I didn't want to send him up because he is a mate as well as a referee and I think I didn't want to send him up because I didn't want any more grief than he already had."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp took aim at Dean while the retired official was working as a Sky Sports pundit. The Reds had been denied a penalty against Manchester City after Jermey Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister during a 1-1 draw in March 2024. Dean had argued that a spot kick could have been given but Klopp still dug out the referee.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Klopp said: "You will find people... I think, did you employ Mike Dean, is he working for Sky? Congratulations, that's a great appointment by the way. He will find something, and all the others as well. It's a penalty, for all football people on the planet it's penalty. If you think it's not one, then maybe you are not a football person."

Mauricio Pochettino squared up to Dean after seeing his Tottenham Hotspur side lose 2-1 to Burnley in February 2019. The Spurs boss was pulled away by Burnley defender Phil Bardsley and later given a two-match ban and a £10k fine by the FA.

In his report of the incident, Dean wrote: "Mr Pochettino acted in a very irresponsible and aggresive (sic) manner. He wouldn’t stop saying 'you know what you are, you know what you are'.

"I then said on numerous occasions to go away, at least 10 times, and he wouldn’t get out of my personnel (sic) space and then aggresively (sic) pointed his finger just a few inches from my face again saying 'you know what you are'."

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic was sent off at half-time after berating Dean as he walked off the pitch. The Baggies were 2-1 down at the break in September 2020.

Everton ’s James Rodriguez had put the Toffees in front during first half injury time. West Brom defender was then sent off for violent conduct moments later, causing Bilic to lose his temper.

Dean caused uproar with his decision to send off West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek against Fulham in February 2021. Soucek was shown red after his elbow made contact with Aleksandar Mitrovic, though it appeared to be accidental and the red card was later overturned.

However, the referee received death threats and his family were targeted on social media over the decision. "It was hard. My daughter is football-mad, a season-ticket holder at Tranmere," he told The Athletic. "She was 24 at the time but she couldn't get her head around the fact I'd made a decision on the pitch and, as a result, I was getting all these threats."

Possibly the most memorable moment from Dean’s refereeing career. The official was infamously spotted briefly celebrating after Moussa Dembele opened the scoring for Spurs against Aston Villa in 2015, though he later explained his actions.

"I wouldn't say it was a goal celebration, I was celebrating an advantage," he told BBC Sport in 2020. "As you can see, but I kind of got carried away with the whole day really. It is a foul and I've played on, probably shouldn't have put my arms out but it was good."

The Spurs incident is not the only celebration Dean is well known for. In 2019, the Tranmere Rovers fan was seen in the away end as the club took on Forest Green Rovers in the League Two play-offs.

The camera panned to Dean at numerous points during the 1-1 draw, which saw Tranmere book their place at Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win. At full-time, Dean was spotted standing on the terraces and punching the air upon reaching the play-off final.

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