Former official says he ‘tried to stay in the centre circle’Referees’ group thought to be puzzled by remarksThe former Premier League referee Mike Dean claims he used to take part in secret challenges while officiating, including trying to stay in the centre circle for as long as possible, as he confessed to “just joking about” during matches. The remarks, made by one of the most well-known officials in the English game, have been met with bemusement by refereeing officials who say there is no evidence of any such behaviour having ever taken place.Dean was a member of the select group of referees for more than two decades before he retired in 2022, and a brief spell as a video assistant…
Published: 2026-09-03T15:22:39+00:00
Source: www.theguardian.com