Dean appeared on Jamie Vardy's podcast, where he revealed that he would see how long he could go without blowing his whistle or stay inside the centre circle. He claimed to have gone 20-25 minutes without blowing a whistle and 15 minutes without leaving the centre circle. However, referee figures have disputed these claims, suggesting that they are unfounded and date back to the pre-video assistant referee era.
Dean's comments have sparked controversy, as he has previously courted criticism for his media statements. In 2022, he failed to send the referee to the monitor for a red card for Cristian Romero in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham. Dean explained that he did not intervene because he wanted to save referee Anthony Taylor from extra "grief", as they were friends.
Dean enjoyed a 28-year career as a professional official, stepping down from on-field officiating in 2022 and retiring after spending the 2022-23 season as a full-time VAR. He began officiating in 1985 and progressed from refereeing in the Football League 10 years later, and then to Premier League in 2000. Dean refereed the 2008 FA Cup final and 2011 League Cup final at Wembley.
The controversy surrounding Dean's claims highlights the importance of accurate information in the world of refereeing. As Dean continues to be involved in the sport, his comments will be closely scrutinised by fans and officials alike.