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.’