Former Premier League ref Mark Halsey has turned whistlebower immediately after the controversial Sergio Aguero/Winston Reid elbowing incident.
And he has declared he was told by his superiors to say he had not seen controversial incidents in matches.
Halsey suggested during a Twitter conversation on Friday that Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) – the governing body for elite referees in England – instructed him to claim he hadn’t seen flashpoints when he clearly had.
It follows the debate over Sergio Aguero’s elbow on Winston Reid during Manchester City’s win over West Ham last weekend, which has led to the Argentine being handed a three-match suspension.
City appealed the ban because they refused to believe referee Andre Marriner’s assertion that he had not seen the incident, which occurred in the 76th minute of City’s 3-1 home win.
But Aguero has been charged with violent conduct following a retrospective review of the incident and received a ban that will keep him out of the Manchester derby with United on September 10.
Now Halsey’s comments appear to indicate that top level officials have long been told by PGMOL to claim they didn’t see moments of controversy.
Replying to another user, he tweeted: ‘I have been in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven’t seen it.’
In a later reply, he said: ‘To be fair to the FA… it’s not them. It comes from within the PGMOL.’
I have been saying and writing for some time that, with the “quality” displayed in the recent past, the refs are the cancer of English football competitions. This article tends to confirm it.
Without the refs in their pockets the football authorities wouldn’t be able to guarantee the big sides always win though Dunlop that would be terrible wouldn’t it 😉
If he is a whistle blower name names,
The sooner we get to the standard of Rugby and RugbyLeague the better,every other sport like cricket and Tennis have embraced modern technology it’s about time we did,the old excuse of it take to much time and breaking the game up is rubbish,all free kicks corners throw ons,
Substituting, injury treatment ect take for ever so to take our time and get it right would be better,
Just think last season we would have finished second if the right decisions had been reversed,
Why are officials so old and most do not even look fit,
With all the money around we should have well paid professionals young enough to have good eye sight,the should have monthly medicals yearly tests on rules,every club should provide 1 and they not be allowed to ref games that could benefit the providers,
That goes for International games as well and European Tornaments where I have seen some real doughnuts,
I reckon every point you make is bang on, Bubs. I’m so sick of the game hijacked by a bunch of t0ssers….
If EVER there was a reason why TV replays of incidents should be decided by the managers and not the refs, this is it. If ever we get into the top four it will be because we have not just beaten the other clubs but the refs too…
Meanwhile, perhaps the PGMOL need to be given the Blatter treatment….bet it doesn’t happen though…
Has Halsey lost his mind, this all sounds very dubious – for what reason would anyone tell him to turn a blind eye or lie about what he had seen – doesn’t make sense!
Mr Halsey have you ever been visited by the Russian mafia prior to a Chelsea game. Yes or no? Be very careful how you answer this question.