Mark Halsey told us that he was speaking with Bobby Robson before a Newcastle match he was refereeing, and Robson told him that Craig Bellamy is fined £5000 every time he is booked for dissent. So when Bellamy said something to the referee during the match, he called him over. Mark Halsey's tolerance level to abuse towards him is pretty high so he wasn't going to book him for what he said, but he called Bellamy over and said "You know I could book you for that and you'll be fined £5000". Bellamy said "How did you know that!" and he replied "Your manager told me". Bellamy pleaded not to be booked and said he'd give the referee his shirt after the match if he didn't book him for what he said. Since he wasn't going to book him anyway, the referee accepted and got his shirt!

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Answers

If true we will be docked points

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

Why? The ref wasn't going to book him anyway and apparently announced this at a referee teach-in. Nowt cloak and dagger about it.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

And I can't think that Craigy's sweaty shirt is really an inducement for a referee :)

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002

all true... but we're talking about the FA here not a reasonable group of people :-(

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2002