Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has made the stunning claim that he was told by his superiors to say he had not seen controversial incidents in matches.
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The 55-year-old, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, has made the shocking accusation during a discussion about Sergio Aguero’s three-match ban for elbowing West Ham United defender Winston Reid.
But if Halsey’s claims are to be believed, then it is possible that Marriner was instructed to lie about seeing the incident in order to confirm a ban for Aguero following the uproar about the incident on social media.
City claim that Marriner saw the incident and did not deem it a bookable offence and so no further action should have been taken afterwards.
Halsey wrote: “I have been in that situation, when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven’t seen it”.
City appealed the ban, which came after Aguero was pictured elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid during last Sunday’s game.
PGMOL was formed in 2001, and provides referees for the Premier League, Football League, and FA, who all provide them with funding, as well as working to improve the standards of refereeing.
And his comments are sure to cause shockwaves across the national sport, as former Manchester United captain Gary Neville says he spoke directly with Halsey and verified that he meant what he said.
An ex-Premier League referee has claimed that he was told to say that he did not witness incidents during matches.
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It is easy to echo Neville’s words here with this a huge problem for the Premier League.
