'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has fuelled the relentless criticism of officials by admitting that some "don't know the game" while analysing the weekend's decisions. The English top-flight threw up another selection of contentious incidents across nine games on Saturday and Sunday.
And in The Sun's latest episode of The Whistleblower, Halsey - a Premier League referee from 1999 to 2013 - disagreed with two recent decisions made by the current crop.
The 63-year-old first took issue with Samuel Barrott awarding Liverpool a match-winning penalty against Southampton on Sunday.
Related articles Mainoo 'written off' without playing under Amorim as Man Utd transfer backed Gary Neville calls out worrying 'red flag' as Ruben Amorim debut ripped apartMohamed Salah scored the second of his brace from the spot to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage after a fizzed ball struck Yukinari Sugawara's arm in the box.
However, Halsey considered the call harsh, questioning the current referees' football knowledge outside of the game's laws.
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"It's come off his chest onto his arm. They're in a natural position for that phrase of play. That's what I'm saying about training education with our referees about incidents like that with handball.
"It's about knowing the game. It's all right knowing the laws of the game. It's about knowing the game of football."
Yukinari Sugawara was punished for a handball. (Image: Getty) Stay up-to-date with the latest Man Utd news Join us on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Halsey then turned his attention towards Andy Madley for opting against sending Wilfred Ndidi off for a poor challenge on Cole Palmer in Chelsea's 2-1 win at Leicester City a day earlier.
The Foxes midfielder appeared to scrape his studs down Palmer's Achilles, but Madley left viewers stunned by only brandishing a yellow card.
Halsey was among those in disbelief, describing Ndidi's reckless tackle as career-threatening.
He said: "I thought it was a very, very poor challenge when I saw it again. In real-time, Andy Madley hasn't recognised the intensity of the challenge.
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Related articles ‘Arsenal broke their transfer record to sign me – I paid the price for it' Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week Man Utd make Chido Obi Martin decision as Ruben Amorim hints at team changes This widget requires javascript to work.Manchester Unitedman-utd!function n(e,i){"function"==typeof window[e]?new window[e]("24112510511320","keep_sell"):--i>0&&setTimeout((function(){n(e,i)}),100)}("du_keep_sell_21_ks19_widget",30)"I was surprised when the Premier League match centre came out and said there was no intensity. It's all right knowing the laws of the game. It's about knowing the game of football.
"But I'll say it again, I said it earlier, when a player lunges at an opponent in that manner, from one or two feet, from the front, from the side, from the back, it has to be sanctioned a serious foul play.
"That was the worst challenge of the weekend. And I was very, very surprised that Paul Tierney, the VAR, did not recommend a review.
"That was a career-threatening challenge. It's the training and education of VAR, when to come in and when not to come in."
'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
'I'm an ex-Premier League referee - I know our officials don't understand football'
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