Long-serving EPL referee Mike Dean set to retire

Premier League referee Mike Deal is set to return at the end of the season. 

Dean is the longest-serving referee in the Premier League and has also dished out a record amount of red cards in the Premier League. The 53-year-old is now set to bring to an end his refereeing career at the end of the current season.

As reported by Telegraph, Dean will call off his on-field officiating but will continue being involved in football. The England international is in talks with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) to move into a full-time VAR role.

Dean who was expected to quit at the end of last season has officiated 553 top-flight matches.

Mike Dean is the only referee in Premier League history to show 100 red cards in the competition.

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— Squawka (@Squawka) March 21, 2022