• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Mike Dean names the toughest Premier League player he refereed during his career

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 11:37 27 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 11:31 27 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Mike Dean names the toughest Premier League player he refereed during his career

Dean has revealed all.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

Mike Dean has named the toughest Premier League player he officiated during his career as a referee.

Dean made his way through the non-league and Football League ranks before being appointed to the Select Group, therefore becoming a Premier League referee, in 2000.

He was also a part of the FIFA international list between 2003 and 2013. Dean officially retired from on-field refereeing last year, although worked as a VAR official for a single season.

Advert

During his 22-year stint in the top flight of English football, the Wirral-born referee had to officiate some of football's toughest competitors - both players and managers.

Speaking to The Athletic earlier this year, Dean revealed that legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was the toughest manager he had to deal with - because he always complained about him if the Gunners lost.

But who was the toughest player he had to deal with? The answer is former Liverpool, Manchester City and Wales forward Craig Bellamy.

Advert

During an interview with SPORTbible, after being appointed as head of BAR (Bingo Assistant Referee) at Mecca Bingo, Dean said: "Craig Bellamy was tough. The likes of Robbie Savage and Joey Barton, I got well with them. He [Bellamy] is probably the toughest one I've refereed.

"I know why he's like that, because when you cross the white line you want to win for two hours, don't you?

"A lot of players can be like that, but I just found him a little bit harder than the rest of them to be honest."

Since retiring, Dean has taken up a new role as the referee correspondent on Soccer Saturday.

Advert

That means he is still keeping a close eye on developments in relation to refereeing - and has two ideas that he believes will make a huge difference in the English game.

He explained: "They could use a sin bin, where if a player is pushing the limits for dissent, instead of getting a caution for dissent they can go to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

"That will be easy, and will certainly stop a lot of dissent in the game. That's what sometimes does spoil it for young people watching on TV as well.

Mecca Bingo

Advert

"They'll have automated offsides in the Euros this year no doubt, and if that works - it probably will do, because it's worked in every other world and European competition - there's no reason why we can't have it in the Premier League next season.

"Again, it'll make it a little bit easier, make the process a bit quicker. Someone just tells the assistant referee in his ear that he is offside and obviously the goal will be given. It would have made the Tottenham vs Liverpool decision a lot easier, a lot quicker."

Dean also spoke about the possibility of getting more ex-professional players into refereeing - but concedes there are some hurdles to jump over.

"I've got no issues in doing it, but you can't fast track them, that's unfair on people who have been doing all the groundwork in the Northern Premier League and the National League to get to the Football League.

Advert

"You can't put them straight in - they've got to put in the groundwork, which probably takes two to three years.

"Would guys want to do it? I wouldn't have thought so. I think maybe you might get young pros around 23 to 25, who have been released by a club and probably not quite good enough to be a footballer, and the next best thing might be to referee.

"That might be a way of doing it. But I just can't see ex-pros at the age of 35, 36 wanting to go down the route of refereeing, to be perfectly honest."

Mike Dean was speaking after announcing his new role at Mecca Bingo, where he has been helping to launch B.A.R (Bingo Assistant Referee) - a state-of-the-art technology system to keep bingo players on track. To find out more, click here.

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Football, Mike Dean, Premier League, Spotlight

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

16 mins ago
24 mins ago
25 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 16 mins ago

    Jamie Carragher issues statement after Liverpool player Diogo Jota dies aged 28 in car crash as tributes pour in

    Jota has tragically died at the age of 28 following a road traffic accident.

    Football
  • 24 mins ago

    Portuguese FA make request to UEFA after death of Diogo Jota in tragic car crash

    The Liverpool forward was involved in a tragic accident alongside his brother Andre Silva.

    Football
  • 25 mins ago

    Liverpool issue statement on Diogo Jota's death as forward dies aged 28 alongside brother in car crash

    Diogo Jota and his brother were involved in a car crash in Spain on Thursday.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Alisha Lehmann issues 12-word statement after Switzerland lose opening Women's Euros match to Norway

    Alisha Lehmann has reacted to Switzerland's defeat to Norway at the Women's Euros.

    Football
  • Premier League player shouted forbidden phrase during match that led to it being 'banned' from football
  • Ben White names his toughest Premier League opponents including player he still gets mocked about years later
  • Fans left furious after hearing what Mike Dean said on commentary during Arsenal vs Chelsea
  • Wayne Rooney didn't hesitate when naming the toughest opponent he faced during his career