Referee Mike Dean to retire from refereeing at the end of the season

No more accidental celebrations - Mike Dean is set to retire

Mike Dean will retire from refereeing at the end of the season following 22 seasons in the top-flight, as reported by the Telegraph. While he is set to walk away from his on-filed duties, Dean is reportedly in discussions with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) to continue working as one of only two full-time VAR officials who are not required to do any on-field refereeing. The 53-year-old - who was appointed as a Select Group referee in 2000 - has officiated several high-profile matches during his career, including the FA Community Shield and the finals of the FA Cup and Football League Cup. He has also refereed 553 Premier League matches.

Mike Dean refereeing controversy

Dean has been at the centre of a number of controversial incidents during his time as a referee, one of which saw Arsenal supporters launched a petition to prevent him from refereeing their team following a Premier League fixture against Chelsea in 2015 - which gathered nearly 100,00 signatures in a week. During his career, he has issued over 100 red cards and became the first official in the Premier League to do so. He reached his century three years ago with the dismissal of Ashley Young, who received his marching orders during Manchester United's defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is thought that Dean is a popular member of the elite officials group and while he isn't everyone's favourite official, he has often been praised for his lunt refusals to enter into discussions with players and managers. Dean is in talks with Mike Riley, the managing director of PGMOL, about continuing next season as a a full-time Var, which would see him work alongside Lee Mason - who quit as an on-field referee last season - exclusively on the monitors at Stockley Park. Related links:

• Eddie Howe questions Mike Dean over “unjust” Liverpool goal
• Pep Guardiola accused of false equivalence over Mike Dean and Bernardo Silva comments
• Death threats sent to referee Mike Dean and his family after Soucek red card