Former referee Mark Halsey claims he has been told to turn a blind eye to controversial incidents during matches

Halsey made the remarks after Manchester City challenged the FA's violent conduct charge against Sergio Aguero believing that referee Andre Marriner had seen the incident

Mark Halsey (Getty)

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has made claims that he was told by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to say he had not seen controversial incidents take place in matches.

The 55-year-old made the remarks in an online debate regarding Manchester City’s appeal to the charge of violent conduct issued against striker Sergio Aguero after he elbowed Winston Reid in Sunday’s Premier League clash between City and West Ham.

City challenged the Football Association’s ban as they believed that TV images showed that referee Andre Marriner was close to the incident and appeared to be clearly looking at Aguero’s tussle with West Ham's Reid.

Winston Reid receives treatment after his clash with Sergio Aguero during Sunday's game (Getty)

Only in circumstances where a referee has not seen a bookable offence can retrospective action be taken against a player.

In his post-match report, Marriner claimed he had not seen the incident therefore permitting a subsequent video review to take place which eventually culminated in Aguero's three-match ban.

But had Marriner seen the incident, as City suggest, then action should not have been taken after the match on the assumption that the referee had not deemed the incident a bookable offence during play.

However, Halsey, in conversation on Twitter, made the claim on Friday night that he has previously been told by the PGMOL to say he had not seen incidents that he had in fact witnessed.

"I have been in that situation," he wrote, "when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it."

When asked further, Halsey revealed: "To be fair to the FA... it's not them. It comes from within the PGMOL."

Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender and Valencia boss, waded in on the issue and tweeted: "Mark, I'd like to know who told you to say that!

"@FA and @premierleague think you have a major issue on your hands!!"

The Independent has contacted Mark Halsey and the PGMOL on the matter but is currently waiting for a response.