Legendary referee Mike Dean has opted to depart English refereeing body PGMOL and this signals the culmination of a 28-year long career.
Dean spent the entirety of the 2022/23 season as a Video Assistant Referee continuing from his iconic career as a match official in the Premier League.
The 55-year-old also spent quality time tutoring match officials during the previous season.
Reports from The Telegraph claimed that Mike Dean retired after he was “found to be unsuited to VAR duties”.
After Mike Dean ended his refereeing career, what is the next move for him?
However, Daily Mail reveals that Dean’s decision to retire was apparently made by him and he will announce his next move when it’s time.
The switch from being an off-field official was a tasking one for the Englishman following a lengthy career as an on-field official.
Mike Dean began officiating in 1985 and was elevated to prominence due to his impressive display.
The 55-year-old was promoted to the Premier League in 2000 and he proceeded to handle 560 games, brandishing 114 red cards before retiring from on-field duties in 2022.
He began the 2022/23 season as one of two full-time VAR officials with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
However, that transition didn’t turn out as expected and he wasn’t handed any Premier League appointment since February, 2022.
The report by the Telegraph stated that Mike Dean skillset as an official “did not translate to being able to make decisions remotely from Stockley Park”.
His counterpart in full-time VAR officiating duties, Lee Mason spent a shorter timeframe than Dean as he was removed from the role following a costly error in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on the 11th of June, 2023.
The Gunners were angered after Lee Mason forgot to draw offside lines for Ivan Toney’s goal in the encounter and that might have also been a reason they lost the title to Manchester City.
Some of Mike Dean’s controversial calls
Mike Dean is also not short of controversies and errors as he admitted in August 2022 that he made a wrong call in judging Tottenham’s controversial equalizer against Chelsea.
Marc Cucurella’s hair was pulled back by Cristian Romero moments before Harry Kane brought the game to parity at Stamford Bridge.
Many will remember that incident and also the aftermath of the encounter where things got heated up between Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel.
Mike Dean wrote to the Daily Mail admitting his errors of not terming the conduct a “violent act” at first glance.
However after examining the footage, he felt he should have asked Anthony Taylor to go have his own second look at the incident via the pitch-side monitor.
Dean wrote: “I’ve since studied the footage, spoken to other referees and, upon reflection, I should have asked Taylor to visit his pitch-side monitor to take a look for himself. The referee on the field always has the final say.”
Mike Dean also seemingly apologised to Arsene Wenger on the 31st of December, 2017 after awarding West Bromwich Albion an undeserved penalty.
Arsenal were coasting to a slim victory at the Hawthorns after going ahead in the 83rd minute via a goal from Alexis Sanchez.
However, after Kieran Gibbs kicked the ball on Calum Chambers arm, which was presumably in a natural position, Mike Dean instantly awarded a penalty, which Jay Rodriguez converted.
Mike Dean celebrated Tottenham Hotspur’s goal against Southampton?
In a comical footage, Mike Dean was also seen gesticulating in a celebratory manner when Tottenham Hotspur scored against Aston Villa in 2015.
Dean has however come out to state that his celebrations were not as a result of Spurs going ahead but based on the premise that he allowed advantage when he should have blown for a penalty and Tottenham Hotspur scored from it.
Meanwhile, through a statement, the Premier League’s refereeing body sent their gratitude to Mike Dean for his contributions over the years.
The wrote: “PGMOL would like to place on record its recognition of Mike’s achievements as well as his immense contribution to refereeing and the game as a whole.
“We thank him for his dedication to the organisation over a sustained period of time and wish him every success for the future.”
