Mark Halsey slams standard of Prem refs as SunSport reveals most top games are kept to just seven elite officials
Top whistler says our stats back up his fears that referees lack quality - even among the best of the best
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MARK HALSEY slammed the standard of Premier League referees as ‘not good enough’.
SunSport can reveal that most of the biggest clashes fall to a select list of just SEVEN refs.
Our statistics show this group have taken charge of a whopping 70 per cent of games between top-six sides since the start of 2010-11.
That figure rises even further since 2014-15 — despite the Premier League having 18 “elite” refs at its disposal.
Former top-flight whistler Halsey even believes some refs in the Prem’s magnificent seven are not up to the required level.
He said: “There’s not enough quality in the elite group of referees and SunSport’s statistics since 2010 back that up.
“Martin Atkinson was given Chelsea v Manchester United today yet, eight days ago, he incorrectly sent off Aaron Cresswell of West Ham. As a result, Cresswell missed yesterday’s 1-0 win over Sunderland while Atkinson was rewarded with the biggest game of the weekend.
“That sums up the level of refereeing in the Premier League at the moment.”
Halsey claims the refereeing chiefs do not trust some officials to handle the showpiece games.
Jonathan Moss is seventh on our list of “A-list” games but the West Yorkshire ref has never taken charge of powder-keg games like Liverpool v Manchester United and the Manchester or North London derbies.
Halsey added: “Moss has had a series of poor displays, the latest last week at the Emirates when he incorrectly sent off Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.
“It was no surprise he was taken out of the limelight yesterday to ref Bradford v Sheffield United in League One.
“This highlights that the Professional Game Match Officials Limited do not trust referees outside the top six with these showpiece games.
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“Craig Pawson and Robert Madley are international Fifa refs and going in the right direction if they get the chance.
“Experienced refs Mike Jones, Lee Mason, Kevin Friend, Roger East and Neil Swarbrick should be good enough for these matches.
“You have to ask why are they not awarded the bigger games?
“All the elite group referees are pros and get a decent salary, why are only a few capable of handling big games?
“In my day almost any of the 18 refs could take charge of any Prem game.
“Since ref chief Keith Hackett left in 2010 the quality has dropped dramatically.
“There are reasons. A lack of quality in leadership, direction, and man-management. Plus a lack of competent and knowledgeable coaches and assessors at national level.”