This was hardly a surprise – but Mark Halsey has been removed from the list of referees for this weekend’s Premier League games, after he failed to see Wigan’s Callum McManaman’s terrible tackle on Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara.
Mark Halsey – sent down to lower leagues
That cost Newcastle 3 points, because Mark said in his report of the game, that if he had seen the tackle he would have shown the Wigan player a red card – but Wigan went on to got a dubious winner in the 90th minutes, which should have been disallowed for a clear hand-ball, but it wasn’t.
And Mark wasn’t the only one culpable in the game, as neither of the two linesman flagged for a foul – so no free kick was even awarded, never mind a red card.
And after the game the FA also refused to do anything about it, since one official had seen the tackle – and presumably since a foul wasn’t even given – he must have thought the tackle was fair.
The FA has been heavily criticized for their non action – and it’s made the whole thing just a little laughable.
Halsey’s view of the incident was blocked by a Newcastle player, but it’s believed assistant referee Matthew Wilkes informed the FA that he saw what he described as a coming together of the players.
What that means we have no idea, but obviously the assistant referee didn’t think the “coming together” was a foul or deserved a red card.
Halsey received death threats over the incident, and is considering retirement, and he will now referee the League One game between Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers on Friday, and he will be at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for Arsenal’s fixture with Reading as a fourth official.
When referees have a bad game in the Premier League this is standard procedure, and they spend one or two games in the lower leagues, but Mark could be back officiating in the Premier League some time in April.
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13 comments so far
Elb11
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #1Bit harsh for one mistake.
Tsunki
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Comment #2Correct decision. Top flight football demands top flight vigilance, all the officials involved failed at their duty and left the FA in a mess. The death threats thing though is ludicrous who are these hysterical lunatics? Contrary to the oft referred-to humour of Shankly, football is just a game after all.
Tsunki
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #3Players can be sent off and be suspended for one mistake. There have to be standards.
ajcrawfs
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Comment #4I have watched Doncaster a number of times this season and can tell you Halsey is a lot better than most referees in League One
terencelim
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Comment #5Very lucky for him. Mark should be long be banned after that Liverpool Manure game.
Tsunki
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #6Ajcrawfs – following your post re nufc finances, its no surprise really, plus the cash windfall of minimum £60 m bandied about expect the january window to be eclipsed by a surprising summer transfer influx. I expect a clearout and some really good signings so watch that space. We have to do this just to stay in the game so if NUFC and Ashley want Europe to be a constant feature it will be a huge summer mark my words.
lesh
Mar 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Comment #7Halsey doesn’t see the incident but said that had he seen it, he would have issued a straight red. Halsey is sacked
Wilkes sees it and thinks nothing of it and no action taken against him.
Am I missing something here?
Rozzy
Mar 26, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #8Harsh as he didn’t see it but the linesman did and he should be punished. Maybe he should have consulted the linesman and that might be the reason for his demotion.
Owldman
Mar 26, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Comment #9Think all of this is an example of the FA passing the buck.They messed up big time & now the ref is the scapegoat.The commitee can’t have watched a replay of that tackle or there would have been only one outcome! A long ban for McManaman
obatoyou
Mar 26, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Comment #10C’mon England!! Startin on the brewski’s about now bein it 8pm here in Australia, game kicks off at 4am!
obatoyou
Mar 26, 2013 at 11:49 AM
Comment #11I have a drinking problem 🙁
rwpoynter
Mar 26, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Comment #12It is my opinion that Halsey is being used as a ‘fall guy, patsy, scapegoat’ , whatever you want to call it ,for the gutless ineptitude of the FA. He has seen the replays and said ,that had he seen it , he would have given a red card. To me that is the end of the issue, as far as his involvement is concerned. Once again the spineless FA creep away unscathed , passing the buck as ever, and has tried to get away with impunity. Typical hypocrisy of a rotten establishment.
rwpoynter
Mar 26, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Comment #13TSUNKI
Another one of Shankly’s famous quotes was ‘ Some people think football is a matter of life or death. I can assure you it is much more important than that. ‘ It’s imprinted on one of my favourite coffee mugs!