UEFA generally uses a steady stream of English referees for Champions League and UEFA Cup matches. However, my contacts inform me that the English officials have been receiving very poor ratings this season with the result that only Halsey (who was chosen for the critical Parma/Heerenveen UEFA Cup Match) was selected for any of the most recent 48 games in Europe.
Apparently, the straw that broke the camels back was Steve Bennett's stunning performance for AEK v Lille in Ch Lg Rnd 4.
UEFA demands monopolistic control of it's competitions.
