Former Premier League referee Mike Dean says he sometimes played “games” during matches, describing it as something he did “for a laugh.” He says that one challenge involved staying on the field after kick-off and trying to go as long as possible before blowing his whistle.
Dean’s comments are reported by multiple outlets, with similar descriptions of his actions during play. BBC Football, Yahoo Sports, and The Athletic all present the same core detail: Dean says he would remain in the centre circle for as long as he could during a match as part of his self-described in-game pastime.
While the outlets focus on the novelty of Dean’s recollection, they do not indicate that he is claiming the games affected officiating decisions in the broader accounts provided here. The reporting centers on his personal account of what he did during games, rather than on any new disciplinary findings or specific match incidents.
