Secret on-pitch games! Premier League referee Mike Dean makes shocking confession

Mike Dean has pulled back the curtain on the peculiar personal challenges he set during top-flight matches.

Details: Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has confessed to playing secret mini-games while officiating matches at the highest level of English football. The seasoned referee revealed that he and his colleagues would actively try to see how long they could go without blowing the whistle during live league encounters.

Speaking about his on-field habits, Dean stated:

“We used to say: 'Right, let's start the game, shall we? Let's see how long we can go without blowing the whistle.' I did that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR arrived, of course. A few times I managed to last 20 to 25 minutes without blowing the whistle.”

Dean also revealed another personal drill he practiced during top-flight fixtures:

"I would stand in the centre circle and see how long I could stay there before having to leave." Fellow referee Josh James added his own experience to the discussion, noting: "Once in a match, I lasted around 15 minutes without leaving the centre circle."

It is worth noting that Mike Dean officiated 553 Premier League fixtures over a 22-year span before retiring from on-pitch officiating in 2022, famously issuing 114 red cards throughout his top-flight career.

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