Mike Dean insists he refereed ‘properly and professionally’ after podcast claims

Former official ‘regrets’ controversial comments

He claims he did not intend to ‘undermine’ others

The former referee Mike Dean regrets his controversial comments on a podcast this week, but insists he always did his job “properly and professionally” during his 25-year career.

Dean sent shockwaves through football when he claimed on the ‘Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party’ podcast he would “joke about” during matches and would see how long he could go without blowing his whistle or leaving the centre circle.