‘I reffed Prem’s most difficult player and gave Utd icon free pass to whack him’

Mark Halsey once allowed Manchester United legend Nicky Butt to have a free hit on Craig Bellamy – after he was subbed on and abused the referee.

The former Premier League official was tasked with keeping the peace at Vincent Kompany's testimonial, which saw Manchester City Legends take on the Premier League All-Stars.

However, when Bellamy was subbed on, and immediately made a beeline towards Halsey, he had a change of heart.

Speaking on Undr the Cosh, Halsey joked: "Nicky Butt was on one team, and Craig Bellamy was on the other team; Bellamy was a substitute, and he comes straight for me!

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"He has a f***ing huge go at me, and I'm thinking, what have I done? He just absolutely tore into me for some reason.

"So Nicky, they didn't get on very well, comes up to me and goes: 'Mark, do you want me to do him for you?' I went: 'I'll give you one challenge!'"

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Halsey continued to tell the story, joking it wasn't long until the winger had the ball, and Butt was quick to take his chance.

"A couple of minutes later Bellamy's got the ball, and he came in and whack! Right from behind! He's put him up in the air, and they've had to get the trainer on the pitch."

As Bellamy received a treatment at the testimonial, Halsey called Butt over: "I blew up. 'Nicky come in here', and I go 'f***ing well done, but no more'. He said: 'No problem Mark'."

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