Referee Mike Dean will step down from his position as a Premier League VAR official and go away the Skilled Sport Match Officers Restricted (PGMOL), the referees’ physique said on Saturday.
Dean, a vibrant determine, started officiating within the Premier League in 2000 and refereed greater than 550 matches within the prime flight earlier than he turned a full-time Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official in 2022.
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The 55-year-old typically attracted consideration for his charismatic fashion of refereeing, allotting playing cards with aptitude and letting the ball run between his legs throughout video games.
Within the intensive spotlight reel of his profession, Dean will probably be finest remembered for a viral video of him celebrating wildly within the stands whereas watching Tranmere Rovers, the membership he has supported since childhood.
“PGMOL want to place on report its recognition of Mike’s achievements in addition to his immense contribution to refereeing and the sport as an entire,” PGMOL mentioned in an announcement.
“We thank him for his dedication to the organisation over a sustained time period and need him each success for the long run.”