we all had our suspicions about fergie's influence on refs, well here is a confession from now retired mark halsey that they spoke regularly off the field...surely conflict of interests...fact he asked fergie to get involved in clattenburg racism involving Mikel is surely a massive no-no in itself.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-halsey-alex-ferguson-text-2276667

Thanks for posting. Hugely concerning; what were they texting about? The weather? Eastenders? Halsey's assurance that he was never influenced by SAF is nonsense. What impact did this 'mateyness' have on results?

Thanks for posting. Hugely concerning; what were they texting about? The weather? Eastenders? Halsey's assurance that he was never influenced by SAF is nonsense. What impact did this 'mateyness' have on results?

 

It was the Mark Clattenburg thing with us. It does make you wonder what other phone calls they have been sharing wih Fergson though. It's not right, managers and refs shouldn't be in contact with each other in that way.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2275547/Manchester-United-lost-2003-Mark-Halsey-referee--stats-pictures.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Interesting Daily Mail story from earlier this year.

well the rest of the league knew the refs were under the hypnotic spell of Sir Red Nose.

nothing surprising here, its been obvious for years he has been referee's appointment officer, confidant, psyhcologist, mentor, friend, boss, timekeeper.....etc...etc

Think this is being taken a little too seriously imo.

He apparently says he had dinner with Ferguson two nights before he took charge of the game at Anfield, where Liverpool were dominating until Shelvey was sent off for being fouled by Evans, and Van Persie got away with a 2 footed lunge off the ground.  He also awarded United a penalty.  You couldn't make it up.

It's like tapping up of referees. 

Think this is being taken a little too seriously imo.

 

I don't. Surely it's a conflict of interest if referees feel its an achievement to be on good terms with a manager. Never mind having personal contact between them. How many other managers are calling up referees before games?

Mark Clattenberg does officiate Newcastle games because he is a support and admits to a conflict of interest.

 

Cosying up to blue nose on the eve of a game against their fiercest rivals, how is that not also a conflict in interest. 

 

 

Stinks. 

Halsey added: "It took time to gain Sir Alex Ferguson's respect but in the end we had a very good relationship

 

Jesus thats a worrying statement, why did he feel the need to try so hard to gain his bloody respect.

Jesus thats a worrying statement, why did he feel the need to try so hard to gain his bloody respect.

 

A ref. who is eager to please a manager really is in the wrong job.

If this is what Halsey is admitting r.e Ferguson, I can only imagine what Howard Webb will bring up when he writes his eagerly anticipated memoirs.

If this is what Halsey is admitting r.e Ferguson, I can only imagine what Howard Webb will bring up when he writes his eagerly anticipated memoirs.

It will be just pages of pictures of Webb kissing various photographs of Fergie.

Fergie only respected the refs who would play his game. Those who actually do their job and call it down the middle get called unfit etc and the FA drop them the next week or they dont get a top 4 game for months after.

Its been beyond a joke for years the power that Fergie had over the FA. Now he has gone United should be treated like everyone else.....hopefully.

I do wonder if Moyes was given the boot come the end of the season if old red nose might be tempted out of retirement.

I seem to remember Graeme Poll writing similar things in his "searing" autobiography, where he also wrote about organising Bingo nights for other refs, or some such nonsense...If a refs any good he should blend into the background, writing a book surely proves that they are just limelight seeking wannabees...Its sad really

Edited September 18, 201312 yr by SHELLY

This is interesting.

 

IMO Halsey comes across incredibly badly.

 

Interview on TalkSport last night ..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PRJ7wum1gE

Good catch, thanks Davey.

 

The whole thing makes me seriously uncomfortable.  Refs and managers certainly should not be mates.  The relationship needs to be professional and uncompromised to remain functional.  I don't care how many times he says "once I get out on that pitch."  Fact is, he was heavily indebted to Ferguson personally and considers him a friend.  The timing of the Anfield screwjob as one example after one of these comfy dinners is pretty disturbing.  I'm just glad his links with Jose happened after he left us. 

I agree that refs should have no outside involvement with managers/clubs but if we are going to report the Fergie incident there was also a mention of Jose paying for Halsey and his wife to holiday in the Algarve

 

Granted Fergie seemed to be more involved/connected to referees and the like but it isn't to say that he was the only manager 

Not sure if this made the rivals thread, but the Mail published this last week:

 

'Do me a favour and call the game off': Former ref Gallagher lifts lid on Fergie's cheeky tactics with officials  

• Dermot Gallagher claims Sir Alex Ferguson asked him to call game off against Middlesbrough in 1997 
• Former ref says ex-United boss wanted fixture replayed to help with title bid

 

Former referee Dermot Gallagher has lifted the lid on Sir Alex Ferguson's intimidation tactics.

And, with figures showing 'Fergie Time' has been slashed since the Scot's departure, the official has revealed the pressure referees were under during Manchester United home matches.

Gallagher recalls one particular episode when United were chasing the title in 1997 - which they duly won - and welcomed Middlesbrough to a sodden Old Trafford.

 

'It was chucking it down with rain and Fergie pulled me aside and said “do me a favour, call the game off’," Gallagher told Sportlobster TV.

'I asked why and he said “there’s nowhere else to fit this game in and the Premier League will have to extend the season. We’ll have a better chance of winning the match and we’ll win the league at Old Traffordâ€. 

'At half time United were losing 3-1 and the pitch was like a swimming pool. As we came off he said “I know we’re 3-1 down but please call it off, we could do with a hand hereâ€. 

'They managed to pull it back to 3-3 and in the last minute Dennis Irwin ran into the box and went down in front of the Stretford End and I only gave a goal kick.

'At full-time Fergie sprinted across the pitch and shouted at me furiously. My wife said, “Fergie had a right go at you about that penalty didn’t heâ€.

 

'I told her he hadn’t mentioned the penalty. She asked why he came tearing across the pitch at me then. The truth is he ran over and asked me if I was going out to dinner that night. I said “no†and he asked “why are we leaving so early then?â€.'

Indeed, Ferguson's ability to squeeze every last second out of officials when his side were losing has since been highlighted.

With United trailing at Old Trafford under their former boss, an average of 79 seconds extra was played in added time.

 

However, this compares to just 40 seconds extra under his successor David Moyes.

Gallagher went on to reveal the anxiety caused by not awarding key decisions to United. 

'Years and years ago one of the referees had a heart monitor on during a match at Old Trafford,' he explained. 

'They were assessing it and suddenly it jumped and went through the roof. They looked at the DVD and he’d just turned down a penalty in front of the Stretford End. The pressure is immense.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2553037/I-know-3-1-call-Former-ref-Gallagher-lifts-lid-Fergies-influence-referees.html

No surprise really.

Sssshhhhh, never happened lads, now let's just brush this under the carpet and move on, nothing to see here.

Man i am so happy Ferguson has gone the dodgy bar steward.