He is the maverick referee at the eye of the storm and one best known for theatrical gestures, dummying the ball and even celebrating his own officiating.
If Mike Dean gets a big decision wrong — as he did when sending off West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli against Manchester United on Monday — he is not going to get off lightly.
In short, Dean makes it about him when he should be trying his best to go unnoticed.
His range of facial expressions and wild hand gestures would easily land him an audition for the lead in a West End musical should he decide to hang up the whistle.