Referee Halsey calls in police after Twitter abuse following Anfield clash

Complaint: Halsey has contacted Greater Manchester Police

Off: Shelvey is given his marching orders by Halsey

Mark Halsey has made a complaint to Greater Manchester Police after he was the subject of malicious tweets.

The 51-year-old Premier League referee, who has battled cancer, was abused on Twitter following his handling of Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Sunday. He sent off Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey and gave United a controversial late penalty that settled the game.

Two tweets were sent by supporters who claimed to be Liverpool fans, both of which were met with outrage from other users.

One, from an account named @johnwareing1, read: ‘I hope Mark Halsey gets cancer again and dies’ while one from @lfcjohn259 read: ‘Mark Halsey should’ve died of cancer.’

The post from @lfcjohn259 was deleted and the @johnwareing1 account was removed completely. But Halsey, who is expected to referee Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup tie between Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, was so upset that he has asked GMP to investigate.

What action the force can take, though, remains to be seen. Last week Daniel Thomas, who plays for Port Talbot in the Welsh Premier League, was not charged for an abusive tweet about diver Tom Daley because the message was deemed ‘not so grossly offensive that criminal charges need to be brought’. However, the abuse of Halsey has been widely condemned.

A Professional Game Match Officials statement read: ‘Our main concern is towards Mark and his family, and as with all officials, there is a backroom team who are there for them. None of the Select Group match officials are on social media.’

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: ‘I know Mark, and he certainly will be shaken. Some things cross the boundaries, and this has.’

dragg

25 Sep 12, 10:19

football fans should grow up. its only one match out of the thousands and thousands that will be played from now until the end of time.

Medicated Oil

25 Sep 12, 11:06

Mark Halsey should remove his FB or Twitter account if he want to continue being a referee.

There will be more times that he will make some decisions that the fan do not like and drop some comments in his FB and Twitter account.

This will be part of the game now whether he like it or not.

hewhoshallnotbenamed

25 Sep 12, 15:29

I'd like to point out that those disgusting posts are from liverpool fans.

A day when both sets of fans celebrate justice for the 96 LFC fans that DIED, here comes these idiotic bunch to abuse the referee and wishing he was DEAD. Hypocrisy at its greatest

Then they complain about chants pointed towards them. Well, it is indeed true that it's never ur fault, is it?

I.imba

25 Sep 12, 21:10

he mistake is mistake lah, but also dun need to curse him to die mah....