This week's 'Sunday Independent' features Stephen Hunt on Mike Dean, and the former Irish international isn't too complimentary to the Premier League referee.
In his 'Against The Breeze' column in 'The Irish News' one fine Tuesday in 2007, Paddy Heaney outlined four different categories of GAA club referee. One of them was entitled 'The Most Important Man on the Pitch':
You know the sort – obnoxious to the core – and not happy unless he’s the centre of the attention. A dangerous and poisonous individual, these men take perverse pleasure from causing controversy. Sick, nasty and objectionable, the GAA provides a refuge for these sickos, who tend to be unloved by their family and friends. Truth to be told, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, we would never suggest that Mike Dean, perhaps one of the most, eh, expressive referees in the Premier League, does not enjoy the love of his friends or family. But he certainly has a certain level of self-confidence (some might call it arrogance) that comes across when he is officiating a match. This is obvious to even the most casual observer of a match involving Dean.
And that is confirmed by Stephen Hunt in the latest edition of his always-excellent 'Sunday Independent' column.
Hunt's whole piece is well worth a read as he talks about young players chasing "the dream" rather than the money and gives his thoughts on the importance of goal celebrations - and why Zlatan's celebrations show how loved he in within the Man United dressing room.
But one extract we thought was particularly amusing was Hunt's opinions on Mike Dean:
There's one referee I'd like to see more respect from. You can probably guess who it is - Mike Dean. He's the most arrogant referee going. In fact, he's probably the most arrogant man I've ever met on a football pitch.
I've come across some big players in my time and there were times when you'd be thinking, 'I can't believe he's said something like that' but, even in this context, Dean takes the cake. He just won't talk to you. He dismisses you like you're a piece of dirt.
He...seems to have no respect for players. Even his facial expressions reveal a lot. I'd say he drives managers bananas.
Hunt says he can still "barely look at" Dean when he comes on the TV but acknowledges that he "must get his decisions right, since he's still refereeing."
Meanwhile, here's a brilliant tribute to the eccentric individuality of Mike Dean.
