Garth Crooks slams Mike Dean in damning verdict on "self-indulgent" referee

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City forward Garth Crooks has slammed 'self-indulgent' referee Mike Dean and passed up on the opportunity to thank the retiring official.

After 22 years in the Premier League, Dean has revealed that he will be hanging up his whistle at the end of the season. The referee is one of the most famous officials in the history of the top flight and has been at the centre of numerous iconic moments.

But for all his hilarious flashes, Dean has also rustled plenty of feathers over the years for one reason or another. And one person who refuses to praise the referee is Crooks.

Writing for BBC Sport, the now-TV pundit said: "I would like to say thanks for the memories but I can't. One manager was of the view when he heard the news that Dean should have retired 10 years ago. Well, I wouldn't go quite that far but the referee does have a habit of bringing those emotions out in people.

"He has been at the centre of too many controversial decisions over the years. His pompous manner and flamboyant behaviour on the pitch have left many confused and angry when all we wanted to do was enjoy the game.

"There was a moment I completely lost it with Dean on Final Score. Arsenal were playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and it was by far the game of the day. The match was finely balanced with the battle between Arsenal centre-back Gabriel and Chelsea striker Diego Costa very much the feature of the match.

"A meaningless tussle ensued between the two players resulting in Dean giving Gabriel his marching orders. It is a habit Dean has repeated more than any other Premier League referee but, more importantly, it destroyed what was an excellent football match and the spectacle the fans had come to see in a crass moment of total self-indulgence. I went ballistic."

As one would expect with 22 years of officiating, Dean has his fair share of 'questionable' decisions. But Crooks felt he had far more than his fair share and that the 53-year-old would get carried away in the heat of the moment.

"Sadly, on too many occasions, Dean has allowed the big moments to cloud his judgement," Crooks explained. "Staying calm and objective under extreme pressure is what defines a great referee. I just wish Dean had possessed both those qualities when it mattered."

But despite Crooks' claims, Dean previously spoke about how he would rarely be intimidated by big characters both on the pitch and in the dugouts. Though he did say that Arsene Wenger was the one manager that he found 'tough' to deal with, he explained: "It has to be Arsene [Wenger] when he was at Arsenal.

"I always found it tough, not refereeing Arsenal in general but refereeing Arsenal when he was the manager. It was just his presence - he wanted the best for Arsenal all the time and if he could get any way of getting one over you he would do.

"Since he has finished football I have seen him and he has been great. Cross the white line and everyone is different, like referees. We are normal people."