There has been a remarkable revelation from one of England's former top referees that could rock English football and cast doubt on the legitimacy of referees' match reports and the integrity of the game.
Mark Halsey, who for years was one of the most respected match officials in the English game, was responding to a tweet from journalist Richard Keys who said that Man City were set to appeal striker Sergio Aguero's three-game bad for elbowing West Ham's Winston Reid on the grounds that referee Andre Marriner might have seen the incident but reported that he didn't see it.
City are appealing the Aguero charge believing Marriner saw the incident - a view backed by Dermot Gallagher on SSN.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) September 1, 2016
Halsey's initial response was to another user's request as to how Man City would prove that Marriner saw the incident - but the follow-up question from the user provoked a response that has huge implications for English football.
Halsey has been quite outspoken since his retirement on the inconsistencies in referring standards, but his latest remark will raise the question as to whether higher powers are intervening in referees' ability to speak the truth regarding certain incidents - and whether the officiating and disciplining of players is controlled by people who should not possess such power.
The response to Halsey's comments were a mixture of amusement, unsurprise, and shock.
But perhaps the most important response was that of former Man Utd player Gary Neville.
I've spoken with Mark. Verified the statement . Huge problem!!! https://t.co/1tuSR9asUt
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 3, 2016
Mark Halsey just admitting what many football fans know happens. Shouldn't come as such a shock.
— Ollie Miller 🐉 🩸 (@olliejoehockey) September 3, 2016
Can't believe I haven't seen Mark Halsey described as a "whistleblower" yet
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) September 3, 2016
