Mike Dean speaking on the Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast.

Mike DeanJamie Vardy's Having a Party Podcast and X

Could West Brom be at the centre of Mike Dean controversy?

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Published on:

05 Sep 2026, 6:15 am

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has sparked controversy this week.

And there has now emerged the possibility that West Bromwich Albion are inadvertently at the centre of it.

Dean has been making the headlines for a series of comments he made about setting himself mini challenges "for a laugh".

Speaking on the Jamie Vardy's Having a Party podcast, Dean said: "We used to say, 'we'll kick off now. Right, see how long we can go without blowing a whistle'. I've done that a few times in the Premier League, before VAR obviously - went 20, 25 minutes without blowing a whistle.

"I used to do another thing. I used to stand in the centre circle - see how long I could stay in the centre circle before I had to leave. That was just me joking about. I got about 15 minutes once."

So, how does Dean's claim relate to West Brom?

Mike Dean could have been referring to West Brom game

Dean's comments have, understandably, drawn a lot of criticism, with several wondering why he has made the claims at all.

Now, YouTube personality Adam Clery has done a video explaining how he believes West Brom's 1-0 victory over Mancheser United at The Hawthorns in March 2016 could be the game Dean is referring to.

Clery pointed out several examples where he feels Dean could have blown for a free-kick, then blew for a few fouls he termed as "soft" after that initial time period.

BBC Sport's Dale Johnson, an expert on refereeing and the laws of football, also did an article which included the same match.

Johnson pointed out that the fixture was the "best example" that matched Dean's claim of going 20 minutes without blowing his whistle.

He said the first whistle was blown on 18 minutes and 50 seconds, with Saido Berahino winning a foul from Daley Blind.

However, Johnson's article stated that while there were some challenges Dean let slide, there was nothing to suggest he had deliberately not blown his whistle.

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What has Mike Dean subsequently said?

In a different BBC Sport article, it was reported that several referee figures believe Dean's claims to be unfounded.

It is also important to stress that there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing from Dean.

Indeed, the now Sky Sports pundit released his own statement via Instagram stories to state that he always refereed with integrity.

The statement read: "Throughout my 25 years as a professional referee, I have always applied the Laws of the Game to the best of my ability.

"My approach as a referee was always to allow the game to flow and whenever possible I preferred to apply a high threshold for contact which the players liked.

"However, if I saw a foul challenge that needed me to take the appropriate action I would give it from the correct position.

"At no stage was it my intention to question, criticise or undermine the integrity of refereeing in this country.

"I have always respected the profession and the responsibility that comes with being a referee."

West Bromwich Albion Football Club