Graham Poll

infobox football official
name = Graham Poll


fullname = Graham Poll
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1963|07|29
cityofbirth = Tring, Hertfordshire
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
otheroccupation = Television pundit, newspaper columnist
years = ? -1991
1986-1991
1991-1993
1993-2007
league = Isthmian League
Football League
Football League
Premier League
role = Referee
Asst. referee
Referee
Referee
internationalyears = 1996-2007
confederation = FIFA listed
internationalrole = Referee Graham Poll (born July 29, 1963 in Tring, Hertfordshire) is an English former football referee in the FA Premier League. With 26 years of experience,cite news
title = Poll ends international career
url = http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/homearticle.aspx?hlid=399390&title=Poll+ends+international+career
author = Mark Kendall
date = 2006-06-29
publisher = Sky Sports
accessdate = 2006-07-10] he was regarded as one of the most prominent referees [cite web
title = Poll: Scrutiny is relentless
url = http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Refereeing/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/08/22264.htm
date = 2002-08-23
author = Lawrie Madden
publisher = TheFA.com
accessdate = 2006-07-10] cite news
title = World-Poll blows whistle on wedding anniversary
url = http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-worldpoll&prov=reuters&type=lgns
publisher = Reuters
date = 2006-06-05
accessdate = 2006-06-23] in the Premiership, often taking charge of the highest profile games. His final domestic game in a career spanning 1544 matches was the Championship play-off final on May 28 2007 between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion. [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2089563,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=7 Graham Poll's retirement] : Guardian Unlimited, May 28 2007. Retrieved on May 28 2007.]

As well as refereeing the 2005 UEFA Cup Final he was the English representative at 2 World Cups and UEFA Euro 2000.

He rose to prominence on the world football scene after his performance in the Croatia vs Australia match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, due to what the BBC called "a series of errors", most notably booking the same player three times before sending the player off. Poll retired from refereeing international tournament finals matches citing his error in the match. He continued to referee in the Premiership, Champions League and on International Games, but said he would not allow himself to be nominated to represent the FA at any Tournament Finals as he felt he had had his chance.cite news
title = Poll retires from international game
url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1809120,00.html
publisher = The Guardian
date = 2006-06-29
accessdate = 2006-06-29]

Football career

Poll took up the whistle in 1980, progressing from the Isthmian League to become a Football League assistant referee in 1986. Five years later he became a full Football League referee, before being selected for the list of Premier League referees in 1993. [ [http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html Profile] : the Football League official website. Retrieved on February 4 2008. he has now retired]

Having held a FIFA badge since 1996, he took charge of quite a few European matches, of which possibly his most important was the UEFA Cup final between CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon in 2005. Poll also took charge of many international matches, refereeing at top FIFA and UEFA tournaments such as Euro 2000, where Poll took charge of France versus Czech Republic, and Norway versus Slovenia in the group stages. He refereed his last ever Premiership match on May 13, 2007, between Portsmouth and Arsenal.

His last ever match, and his last in Europe, was to have been the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Finland and Belgium on June 6 2007. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83778/report=lu.html Poll no-show] for his last ever game as a referee, Finland v. Belgium, June 6 2007): UEFA.com (June 6 2007). Retrieved on June 7 2007.] However, some time prior to that match, he took part in an interview which appeared critical of the support referees receive from the FA in the face of criticism by team managers and coaches. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6703221.stm Interview given in May 2007] regarding FA support for referees: BBC.co.uk (May 30 2007). Retrieved on May 31 2007.] The match was overseen on the day by fellow English referee Mike Riley instead. In August 2007, Poll released his autobiography entitled "Seeing Red", and now concentrates on media work, as a pundit for BBC Sport's football coverage, and as a columnist with The Daily Mail, his feature entitled "The Official Line" appearing every Saturday. [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/columnists/archive.html?in_page_id=1951&in_author_id=428&in_article_id=488621 "The Official Line"] , Daily Mail column written by Poll: the Mail's own website. Retrieved on February 4 2008.]

Everton v Liverpool, 2000 FA Premier League

In the dying seconds of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on April 21 2000 with the score at 0-0, [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=280978 Everton v. Liverpool, 2000] : soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on February 17 2008.] the Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld kicked the ball at Everton's Don Hutchison's back while Hutchison was retreating towards his own half. The ball bounced into Liverpool's net, but Poll disallowed the goal, claiming that he had already blown the whistle to end the game. The television slow-motion pictures proved that this was incorrect, and after retiring in May 2007, Poll confessed that disallowing the goal had been a mistake that he regretted. [ [http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2007/06/09/time-to-forgive-poll-for-howler-100252-19267964/ "Time to forgive Poll for howler"] : Liverpool Echo, June 9 2007. Retrieved on February 17 2008.]

France v Czech Republic 2000

Poll first attracted controversy on the international stage for a decision in the above game played on June 16, 2000, in Bruges at Euro 2000. During the first half Poll awarded a penalty kick to the Czech Republic. However, before awarding the kick Poll ventured over to the assistant referee to confirm where the foul had occurred. Poll awarded the penalty.

World Cup 2002

Poll attracted controversy for his role in the Italy versus Croatia game at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played on Saturday June 8, 2002. His two assistants that day were England's Phil Sharp and Denmark's Jens Larsen. In the opening minutes, Poll had waved away a protest that a Croatian player had been injured, instructing the player to stand. When play was eventually stopped the player left the field with a bloodied nose.

Just after half time Christian Vieri had a headed goal disallowed for offside; TV replays showed the Italian player to be on-side when the pass was made. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/italy_v_croatia/newsid_2018000/2018753.stm Italy v. Croatia] , Vieri's disallowed goal: BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on June 10 2007.] Vieri netted the ball again minutes later to give his side the lead. Italy then had a second goal disallowed for shirt pulling, after a long free kick had found its way in. Both goals had been flagged for infringements by assistant referee Larsen. Croatia then found an equaliser through Ivica Olić, and a winner just fifteen minutes before the end via a deflected shot from Milan Rapaić. Poll had a busy game, as there were forty-two fouls, three goals scored, two goals disallowed, and two bookings.

After the game, Vieri said "Those weren't division one or even division two officials, they were village officials." Francesco Totti also complained about the lack of protection Poll had offered him: "I took a lot of kicks. He was an English referee in every way." [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/wc/story?id=215122&lang=us Italian reaction] to game versus Croatia at 2002 World Cup: ESPNsoccernet.com website.]

As a result of the game FIFA were asked about the standard of refereeing at that World Cup. Their spokesman, Keith Cooper, said: "Generally the overall standard (of refereeing) is more than satisfactory. It is acknowledged that mistakes may be made. I'm not necessarily saying this was the case last night. I do want to emphasize that. It is in the nature of the beast that mistakes can happen. Referees are humans just like players and we shouldn't look at isolated matches, but the standard as a whole." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/other_news/newsid_2034000/2034093.stm Keith Cooper's comments] following Italy v. Croatia, World Cup 2002: BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on September 6 2007.]

World Cup 2002 statistics

* Games officiated: 1
* Goals seen: 3
* Bookings: 2
* Reds: 0
* Penalties awarded: 0

Media

Poll has made several appearances on popular football radio show: World Soccer Daily, where he is typically asked to provide a view from the point of the referee whenever major controversial issues occur.

Personal life

Poll is married to Julia. The couple have two daughters, and one son. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2092726,00.html Wife and children] , two daughters and one son: The Guardian, June 1 2007. Retrieved on January 7 2008.] He also continues with charity work, and ran in the London Marathon on April 13 2008, finishing in a time of four hours and 20 minutes. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7344939.stm London Marathon 2008] , finishes in 4hr 20min: from a report at the BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on April 13 2008.] The proceeds went to the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home. [ [http://www.justgiving.com/grahampoll Iain Rennie Hospice at Home] , Marathon proceeds recipient: Justgiving.com website. Retrieved on April 13 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/ref/40880_POLL_Graham.html Profile on FIFA World Cup 2006 site]
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=167 Graham Poll Referee Statistics] at soccerbase.com
* [http://epltalk.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=253963 Graham Poll interview]