An ex-Premier League referee has claimed that he was told to say that he did not witness incidents during matches.
His comments come in the wake of the three-match ban for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero for striking West Ham defender Winston Reid with his elbow.
Aguero was not punished during the match and in those situations the Football Association cannot act if the referee has seen an incident and included it in his post-match report.
Mark Halsey, who refereed in the Premier League between 1999 and 2013, tweeted to say that he had been "in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it."
He later added that it was not the Football Association but rather the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
@mackemcafu2 @richardajkeys Paul I have been in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it
— Mark Halsey (@RefereeHalsey) September 2, 2016
@lee_greenhalgh1 @FA to be Fair to the FA Lee it's not them, it comes from with in the PGMOL
— Mark Halsey (@RefereeHalsey) September 3, 2016
Sky Sports pundit and ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville did not hide his shock at Halsey's revelations, describing it as a "huge problem".
Mark is that not corrupt!! I'd like to know who told you to say that!!! https://t.co/IC2KmsexF7
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 3, 2016
I've spoken with Mark. Verified the statement . Huge problem!!! https://t.co/1tuSR9asUt
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 3, 2016
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