The Ref Stop

Mike Dean leaves PGMOL VAR role

D

DJIC

Well-Known Member

Mike Dean to leave PGMOL after year in VAR role​

The PGMOL has confirmed Mike Dean will be leaving the organisation this summer.

Dean became a dedicated VAR last summer and has also spent time coaching match officials over the past 12 months after calling time on his long on-field career at the end of the 2021/22 season.

The 55-year-old started officiating in 1985 and progressed through the ranks to an assistant referee and then a referee in the Football League in 1995 and 1997 respectively.

Dean was promoted to the Premier League in 2000 and went on to referee over 550 matches in total in the top flight.

His performances were rewarded with a promotion to FIFA’s list of match officials just three years later. He was appointed to the FA Cup and League Cup finals at Wembley in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

PGMOL said it wished Dean every success for the future.
 
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No surprise there, he'd effectively been dropped for the past few months of the season anyway. Following on from Lee Mason, it is starting to look like specialist VARs aren't working. It must be difficult mentally, you've spent your entire career running around the pitch making decisions but are now consigned to a room near Heathrow, can see how you might not give your best. Especially when you are making an 8 hour return car trip (on a good day) to sit in front of a monitor for 2 hours.
 
RustyRef said:
No surprise there, he'd effectively been dropped for the past few months of the season anyway. Following on from Lee Mason, it is starting to look like specialist VARs aren't working. It must be difficult mentally, you've spent your entire career running around the pitch making decisions but are now consigned to a room near Heathrow, can see how you might not give your best. Especially when you are making an 8 hour return car trip (on a good day) to sit in front of a monitor for 2 hours.
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I realize that things are different, but the US has several specialist VARs for the professional ranks. However, I think the big difference is that nearly all of these PRO/MLS specialists still work on-field in lower-level games like college games. For example, Sorin Stoica is a specialist VAR for MLS, but he still works a bunch of matches at the collegiate level and probably at some lower amateur levels. So at least these officials are still experienced on field. The one I'm wondering about is Kevin Stott, who retired from MLS on-field officiating at age 55 and a 27-year career. I don't know if he's still working games on-field or not.

I can absolutely see your point about specialist VARs maybe not putting the level of focus into the job.
 
With the exception of the hair pulling incident in the Chelsea Spurs game, I don't recall many more major controversies involving Mike Dean? I got a feeling there may of been falling out with Howard Webb and it's gone from there.

Lee Mason I could understand being dismissed on performance but less so with Mike Dean. Maybe he will get into the media now which people were expecting initially.
 
I think VAR appointments will work well as long a referee is promoted into it rather than demoted into it. The position should be the same way as 4Os are appointed. Obviously with all the training required.
 
www.skysports.com

Simon Thomas named new Soccer Saturday host; former referee Mike Dean also joins show to give insight from match officials

Simon Thomas replaces Jeff Stelling, who left Soccer Saturday at the end of the 2022/23 season after more than 25 years at the helm; ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean will also join the team next season; Soccer Saturday returns on August 5
www.skysports.com www.skysports.com

Dean is joining the Soccer Saturday panel. A shame to lose a referee/VAR with his experience, but this feels like a good move by Sky.
 
Matthew said:
www.skysports.com

Simon Thomas named new Soccer Saturday host; former referee Mike Dean also joins show to give insight from match officials

Simon Thomas replaces Jeff Stelling, who left Soccer Saturday at the end of the 2022/23 season after more than 25 years at the helm; ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean will also join the team next season; Soccer Saturday returns on August 5
www.skysports.com www.skysports.com

Dean is joining the Soccer Saturday panel. A shame to lose a referee/VAR with his experience, but this feels like a good move by Sky.
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Until social media says a ref has made a controversial decision and Dean say it's the correct decision then they will see him as just backing his former mates up.
 
Paul_10 said:
Until social media says a ref has made a controversial decision and Dean say it's the correct decision then they will see him as just backing his former mates up.
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It really doesn't matter what Mike Dean says - he'll get roasted on social media. Referees just can never get a reasonable shake in the media and social media. Some of the stuff I saw in the comments of The Athletic article was shocking, but far from surprising. The trolls were out in full force, and I came away from the article realizing Mike Dean had it in for something like 16 of the 20 current Premier League teams and a few former EPL teams (note sarcasm).
 
There's a narrative that players didn't like Mike, I'm not sure that is right. Most liked him because he was very vocal and gave it back to them if they gave him grief. I think it was only supporters that didn't like him, because he was seen to be making it all about him. Don't think that was the case personally, that was just his personality.

I've spoken to several ex-top level footballers and they all say the same, they want referees that they can banter with. They all liked the characters like Winter, Dowd, Dean, etc, and every single one of them said the referee they hated being officiated by was Mike Riley, just because he wouldn't talk to them.
 
I have avoided commenting on any of the stories posted on Social media as it's akin to p'n in the wind during a hurricane.

Personally I think Mike Dean is one of the very best referees England has had, certainly in my lifetime. Hopefully he can teach Sky's pundits a few things about the laws and stop them making idiots of themselves with their lack of knowledge so frequently.
 
Mooseybaby said:
Hopefully he can teach Sky's pundits a few things about the laws and stop them making idiots of themselves
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This is a big ask of Mike Dean!

The issue I find, is that it comes down to a rift between applying the laws and the spirit of the game. Pundits and fans don't think some things should be penalised in the spirit of the game, but the LotG will often determine that it must be penalised. As referees we don't get a choice, but they get to have an opinion. He can try to teach them, but we will still end up with a social media disagreement between what fans think the penalty should be and what the laws actually say.
 
The only place I've ever seen MD is on TV (ok maybe on my mobile streaming too).

Is this an indication of us running out of things to disagree about?
 
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