Mark Halsey has claimed that he was told to lie about incidents he had seen while refereeing games.
The former referee was tweeting about the incident involving Sergio Aguero and Winston Reid. The Manchester City striker appeared to elbow Reid, but the referee didn’t penalise him during the game. However, Aguero has since received a three-game ban from an FA panel for the alleged elbow.
Halsey claimed that he was told to say he hadn’t seen incidents during games by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited and he has since doubled down on his claims.
https://twitter.com/RefereeHalsey/status/771628305954975744
Halsey told the Sun on Sunday that he was told to say he hadn’t seen this incident in a game between Blackburn and Stoke City in 2011. Steven N’Zonzi appeared to elbow Ryan Shawcross. Halsey said he had seen the incident, and didn’t think it warranted a red card. However, he claims he was put under pressure to say he hadn’t seen the incident.
“I saw the incident between Steven N’Zonzi and Ryan Shawcross and was happy it was not a red card,” the former referee, who retired in 2013, said.
“Then, when the assessor came in, he said there was no problem and that I’d refereed very well. On the Monday we had our get-together with referees at Warwick University and I was told, ‘Look at this’ and I was still happy with the decision.
“I was told to expect a call from the FA compliance department, which I duly got. When I got the call I said I was still happy — but they said my bosses weren’t happy. I was under pressure to say I hadn’t seen it.
“I was furious but no matter what industry you are in, you do what your bosses say. So he was charged and got three matches.”
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has called for further clarity and an investigation into Halsey’s claims.
So the PGMOL think Mark Halsey is a liar? @RefereeHalsey did it happen?? Does it happen now?
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 4, 2016
I'm sorry!! How can you deny it without investigation!!! https://t.co/NO78FxHzzq
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 4, 2016
Halsey also said that he has been told by other referees that they were also under pressure to lie about incidents.
“I know it goes on because other referees have told me. Nothing can happen because nobody can say anything publicly as a referee. But I suspect it does go on. There are outside influences on different situations.”
PGMOL have denied Halsey’s claims.
