Gareth Southgate should be worried about Jordan Henderson ‘getting into trouble’ with referees at Euro 2020 according to Mark Halsey… as former Premier League official warns England their ill-discipline could cost them
Mark Halsey has warned Gareth Southgate that he should be concerned about Jordan Henderson getting into trouble with referees at Euro 2020.
The former referee, who took charge of Premier League matches for 14 years, believes that England’s discipline or potential lack of it could prove crucial at this summer’s tournament.
And Halsey has warned the English players not to take the physicality of the Premier League into the international game, while urging Henderson to be cautious when it comes to talking to referees.
Mark Halsey believes England’s discipline could cost them dearly at Euro 2020 this summer
The former referee has warned Jordan Henderson not to be too vocal towards officials
‘As for players Gareth should be worried about getting into trouble on the pitch, Jordan Henderson is very vocal,’ Halsey told BETDAQ.
‘I’ve refereed him many times, Jordan Henderson. He likes to say a thing or two to you, so he’ll need to be careful.
‘I think the only danger for England at Euro 2020 in terms of discipline, is with our players playing in the Premier League, they are physical players. What they’ve got to learn not to do is make that challenge at Euro 2020 this summer.
‘We saw Harry Maguire sent off a little while ago for England against Denmark in a Nations League game – he had two yellow cards in the first half.
Harry Maguire was sent off for England against Denmark last year for two yellow card offences
‘You just cannot afford to make those challenges in international football because you’re going to pick up a yellow card, and once you’re on a yellow card early, you’re in big trouble.
‘So Gareth Southgate has really got to be strict with our discipline on the field of play. We’ve got to be careful with our physical challenges.’
The England boss has already made it clear in the weeks leading up to the tournament that he wants his players to be smart and keep their cool.
‘You have to compete but you have to make sure you avoid giving fouls away,’ Southgate said. ‘And we certainly have to make sure we keep 11 men on the field at all times because that’s been a downfall in the past.
‘That’s something we’ve always discussed and it will be no different in the coming weeks.’
VAR will again be in operation throughout Euro 2020 and Halsey predicts more controversy
VAR will be in operation for the tournament, with the selected officials watching the action on screens at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The system came under huge scrutiny throughout the Premier League campaign last season, and Halsey predicts that there will be intense debate over decisions once again this summer.
‘With the game as it is at the moment, there’s always going to be different interpretations of offsides and subjective calls on challenges and penalties,’ Halsey said.
‘We have got a wide range of experienced referees refereeing in the Euros, but that doesn’t mean to say they are all inflammable.
‘It’s down to humans and you cannot be always at your best week in, week out, especially in tournament football, so I do think we’ll see some controversy over the coming weeks – there’s no doubt about that. We see it in every tournament!’
