MIKE DEAN-A REF NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY

Mike Dean, the FIFA referee, is reportedly set to retire as a Premier League referee. As I write, Mike is the subject as "Paddy Power's Person of the Week", announced on Talksport.

"It's ten years too late!" Neil Warnock takes a parting shot at Mike Dean, as the controversial Premier League referee announces his retirment, from this Summer. 

Dean, who is 53, (born June 2nd 1968) is said to be moving into a full-time role as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR). That way he can avoid taking the stick for decisions by hiding in the VAR Studio. 

Warnock couldn't resist a parting "dig" at Dean and the manager says the well qualified referee is too focussed on "putting himself out there" in games and is too keen to "get himself in the limelight".  The Premier League official has taken charge of 553 PL matches, including two Cup Finals, more than any other referee and he has also shown 2,026 yellow cards and (most)  114 reds and 184 penalties. He has also done the FA Community Shield the Football League Cup and the FA Trophy.

Dean was originally appointed to referee the 2006 FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium on 13 May 2006 but the FA later replaced him with Alan Wiley after concerns were raised about Dean's ability to be impartial towards Liverpool, who are based near his hometown in Wirral.

In September 2015, Arsenal Supporters launched a petition to prevent Dean from refereeing their team following a Premier League fixture against Chelsea, gathering almost 100,000 signatures within a week. The FA later rescinded a red card Dean issued to Arsenal defender Gabriel during the incident, and handed Chelsea striker Diego Costa retrospective three-match suspension for violent conduct.

On 2 April 2019, during a game between Wolves (at home) and Manchester United, Dean issued the 100th red card of his career, as a Premier League referee to Manchester United's Ashley Young, making Dean the first referee in Premier League history to reach the 100 red cards milestone.

In February 2021, Dean and his family received death threats following two controversial decisions which saw Dean give a red card to Southampton’s Jan Bednarek and West Ham’s Tomas Soucek in successive games, and asked not to officiate the following weekend Premier League fixtures. Both red cards were rescinded by the FA.

The Premier League will be far poorer without Mike Dean, who will retire from refereeing at the end of the season. He is in discussions to continue as a full-time video assistant referee, but his on-field officiating and character will be sorely missed. Mike has also awarded 184 PL penalties since his first match in the top-flight in 2000.

Dean stepped down from the FIFA international list at the end of 2013 at the mandatory retirement age of 45.

TalkSport lads suggest that Mike should come dressed in the "Bernie Clifton Ostrich" kit for his last match. The Premier League will be far poorer without him.

Ladbrokes offer 2-1 on him making an appearance in "I'm a Celebrity..."

Another "celebrity" appearance was at his favourite Prenton Park (Tranmere Rovers), as a supporter, when one of the appointed officials fell ill and Mike "stood" in as the fourth official against Walsall.

Dean began refereeing in 1985 and progressed to officiate in the Northern Premier League as a referee, becoming a F.L. Assistant Referee in 1995, then promoted to the full referees' list in 1997.

Dean made a cameo appearance as himself in Season 2, Episode 8 of the American television series Ted Lasso. Probably worth a watch...