Premier League referee Mike Dean looks unimpressed as he is spotted watching snooker at Scottish Open on day off

PREMIER League referee Mike Dean stayed calm as the reds flew about.

But for once there was no controversy for the top whistler as he was watching the Scottish Open snooker on a day off from his main job.

Multi-sport fan Dean also throws in a bit of summer caddying for pro golfers.

But this time he dressed down in a hoodie and white trainers to see Scotland's John Higgins beat Thailand ace Noppon Saengkham 4-1.

Eurosport cameras caught Dean looking on impassively - or was it imperiously -  at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales.

And it might have been the relaxing 'break' he needed after another contentious week in the Prem spotlight.

Dean faced criticism on social media from Arsenal fans after reffing Everton's last-gasp 2-1 win on Monday night.

Despite a VAR review, Toffees' defender Ben Godfrey escaped even a yellow card for catching grounded Gunners' star Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face with his boot.

And Anthony Gordon was also unpunished for flooring Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares with a studs-in challenge that VAR did not even look at.

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One supporter posted: "Awful, awful game from everyone, us, Everton, Mike dean, var… but how the sweet mother of Mary Godfrey stayed on the pitch & this Gordon tackle on Tavares weren’t looked at!?!?"

In contrast, Dean watched on peacefully and out of the limelight as four-time world champ Higgins, 46, overcame 29-year-old outsider Saengkham in a disappointing cue contest.

Golf, however, is usually considered the veteran official's second sport.

Five-handicapper Dean, 53, caddied for Aussie Whitney Hillier on the Ladies European Tour in June.

And he famously had the same role when she got a hole in one in 2019.

But now Dean must hope he doesn't get himself into any more holes this season when he returns to the middle in the Prem.