Former ref Halsey sparks corruption claims with Twitter response

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has got himself into a bit of bother Saturday after some candid replies on Twitter with reference to Sergio Aguero's three-match ban for violent conduct against West Ham defender Winston Reid.

It all started when English football presenter Richard Keys tweeted about Manchester City's appeal based on its assertion that match official Andre Marriner saw the incident, therefore eliminating the legitimacy of retroactive punishment.

Pressed by a Twitter user how it could be proven Marriner did or did not see the Argentine's flailing elbow, Halsey responded, "Paul I have been in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it."

Halsey, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, will now likely have to answer to the PGMOL - England's organising body for elite referees formed in 2001 to ameliorate the standards in match officiating - over his claims.

Understandably, at least one former player reckons there's something fishy about Halsey's comments: