Mike Dean (referee)
![]() Dean in 2016 | |||
Full name | Mike Dean | ||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Wirral, England | 2 June 1968||
Domestic | |||
Years | League | Role | |
?–1997 |
![]() | Referee | |
1995–1997 |
The Football League | Assistant referee | |
1997–2000 |
![]() | Referee | |
2000–2022 |
![]() | Referee | |
International | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2003–2013 | FIFA listed | Referee |
Mike Dean (born 2 June 1968)
Since his appointment as a
Career
Early career
Dean began refereeing in 1985. He progressed to officiate in the
Professional career
Dean was appointed to the
Dean took control of the
Dean was originally appointed to referee the
Dean's highest refereeing honour came on 17 May 2008 when he took charge of that year's

On 5 April 2009, in a South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City, Dean suffered a cut to the forehead resulting from what appeared to be a coin thrown by a Cardiff supporter. He later awarded Cardiff a penalty kick, which was converted to earn a draw for the home side.[6] Cardiff's chairman Peter Ridsdale condemned the attack and said that the supporter would be given a lifelong ban if found guilty. A 24-year-old man was later convicted over the incident and given a three-year ban and £200 fine. No action was taken by the Football Association of Wales against Cardiff City.[7]
On 31 January 2011, Dean was appointed to referee the
In January 2017, Dean was criticised after giving a straight red card to West Ham midfielder Sofiane Feghouli for a coming together with Manchester United defender Phil Jones, after which Jones writhed on the floor in apparent pain.[10][11] The red card came after only 15 minutes and with the score at 0–0; Manchester United eventually won the game 2–0. Replays suggested that it was in fact Jones who had committed a dangerous challenge on Feghouli and was himself lucky not to have been sent off.[10][11] Feghouli's red card was later rescinded.[12]
On 2 April 2019, during a game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux, 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
Dean made a cameo appearance as himself in Season 2, Episode 8 of the American television series Ted Lasso.[16] He also made another cameo appearance as himself in Season 3, Episode 12 of Ted Lasso as the referee in the game between the fictional AFC Richmond and West Ham United.
Dean's retirement was made known on 21 March 2022. He refereed his final game on Matchday 38 of the 2021–22 Premier League season. Chelsea won 2–1 against Watford in this game.[17]
On 16 August 2022, Dean was dropped as a
Dean retired as a video assistant referee (VAR) official in 2023.[19]
European and international matches
Dean first international match came in 2004 when he was appointed to a
On 30 September 2010, Dean refereed a Europa League group stage match between Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla. Early in the second half he showed a second yellow card to Dortmund player Marcel Schmelzer for diving.[21]
Dean has also officiated
Dean stepped down from the FIFA international list at the end of 2013 at the mandatory retirement age of 45.
Statistics
Season | Games | Total ![]() |
![]() |
Total ![]() |
![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997–98 | 30 | 83 | 2.77 | 5 | 0.17 |
1998–99 | 38 | 96 | 2.53 | 4 | 0.11 |
1999–2000 | 39 | 90 | 2.31 | 10 | 0.26 |
2000–01 | 37 | 106 | 2.86 | 4 | 0.11 |
2001–02 | 35 | 108 | 3.09 | 8 | 0.23 |
2002–03 | 36 | 155 | 4.31 | 9 | 0.25 |
2003–04 | 38 | 98 | 2.58 | 9 | 0.24 |
2004–05 | 24 | 66 | 2.75 | 7 | 0.29 |
2005–06 | 41 | 134 | 3.27 | 10 | 0.24 |
2006–07 | 43 | 173 | 4.02 | 16 | 0.37 |
2007–08 | 45 | 154 | 3.42 | 10 | 0.22 |
2008–09 | 44 | 156 | 3.55 | 12 | 0.27 |
2009–10 | 43 | 148 | 3.44 | 7 | 0.16 |
2010–11 | 43 | 147 | 3.42 | 7 | 0.16 |
2011–12 | 43 | 146 | 3.40 | 5 | 0.12 |
2012–13 | 40 | 143 | 3.58 | 4 | 0.10 |
2013–14 | 38 | 131 | 3.45 | 7 | 0.18 |
2014–15 | 38 | 158 | 4.16 | 8 | 0.21 |
2015–16 | 41 | 136 | 3.31 | 12 | 0.29 |
2016–17 | 36 | 138 | 3.83 | 5 | 0.14 |
2017–18 | 25 | 93 | 3.72 | 3 | 0.12 |
2018–19 | 29 | 129 | 4.45 | 10 | 0.34 |
2019–20 | 27 | 113 | 4.19 | 4 | 0.15 |
2020–21 | 30 | 111 | 3.70 | 9 | 0.30 |
2021–22 | 29 | 90 | 3.10 | 2 | 0.07 |
*updated as of 2021–22 season
Statistics are for all competitions. No records are available prior to 1997–98.[22]
See also
- List of football referees
References
- ^ a b c "Referee Profiles". Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Dean Gets final Spot". Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ Ralston, William (21 March 2023). "The impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Moore, Glen (8 August 2004). "Football: Community Shield: Reyes rewards Wenger's gamble by drawing". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- Daily Telegraph. Archived from the originalon 7 April 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "FAW starts coin-throwing inquiry". BBC News. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Poll condemns FAW over coin row". BBC News. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Officials named for Carling Cup final". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham". BBC News. 27 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Phil Jones' challenge on Sofiane Feghouli was more dangerous, says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Phil Jones should have been sent off, not Sofiane Feghouli, suggests Slaven Bilic". The Independent. 2 January 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Dean receives death threats after controversial decisions". Sky Sports. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Soucek and Bednarek red cards rescinded". Sky Sports. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "'They said they were going to petrol bomb the house' - Veteran Premier League referee Mike Dean opens up on death threats | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
- ^ Holmes, Linda (10 September 2021). "'Ted Lasso' Recap, Season 2, Episode 8: Father Figures".
- ^ "Chelsea v Watford, 2021/22 | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Mike Dean admits he made wrong decision as VAR over Cristian Romero's hair pull on Marc Cucurella in Chelsea vs Tottenham". Sky Sports. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Mike Dean: Former Premier League referee leaves VAR role after 28-year career". The Athletic. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Mosley, Paul (16 December 2005). "West Ham Vs NUFC Referee Watch: Mike Dean". Archived from the original on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2022. of his first International match, Holland v. Ireland, 2004: Newcastle-Online website. Retrieved on 8 April 2008.
- ^ Moser, Stephen (1 October 2010). "Klopp: "Der Platzverweis ist absolut wahnsinnig"". SPOX.com. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- Soccerbase.
External links
- Mike Dean Profile at Refworld.com
- Mike Dean Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com
- Refs Corner: Mike Dean at the Football Association
- Profile on RateTheRef.net[usurped]