Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has claimed that he was told to ignore certain incidents on the pitch during matches even if he had witnessed them.
The 55-year-old, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, made the remarks on Twitter during a conversation with fellow users about the ban recently issued to Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
The Football Association handed a three-match ban to the Argentine for elbowing West Ham United defender Winston Reid during last Sunday's 3-1 win for City.
The rules currently state that retrospective action can be taken if the match referee or his fellow officials fail to spot an incident as it happens.
Halsey has suggested that figures within the PGMOL, which is the governing body for elite referees in England, would tell him to turn a blind eye, even if he spotted an infringement.
In a series of Twitter conversations, Halsey said: "I have been in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it.
"To be fair to the FA, it's not them, it comes from with in the PGMOL."
The body was formed in 2001 with the aim of improving the standard of refereeing in the Premier League, Football League and FA competitions.
Danielle Joynson
