Graham Poll Quits

[I Will Brleak You]

From The Mirror:

POLL QUITS
EXCLUSIVE Controversial ref blows whistle on his career this Sunday

GRAHAM POLL has dramatically decided to quit refereeing.

His last game will be Portsmouth's Premiership clash with Arsenal on Sunday.

Poll will end his career early after becoming fed up with the abuse that goes with being the most controversial and high-profile official in English football.

The 43-year-old was publicly ridiculed for his World Cup blunder last summer when he showed three yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic.

Referees' chief Keith Hackett tried to persuade Poll to change his mind.

But Poll, who could have carried on for at least another six years, would not be swayed and was adamant the match at Fratton Park would be his last at the top level. Poll retired from refereeing in international finals after the gaffe in Germany, which put paid to any chance he had of being awarded the World Cup Final.

He was still hoping to be put in charge of this season's Champions League Final, only for that to be scuppered by Liverpool being one of the finalists.

He has been involved in controversy this season after sending off Chelsea captain John Terry during their defeat at Tottenham.

Chelsea players claimed Poll said they needed to be "taught a lesson" but he was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the Premier League.

His latest run-in was with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on Wednesday, the pair exchanging angry words during the goalless draw with Manchester United.

It is believes there was jealousy and bitterness among his fellow officials who felt Poll received special treatment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=poll-quits%26method=full%26objectid=19084382%26siteid=89520-name_page.html

Too bad. A few dodgy calls, but overall a good ref. I wonder if Chelsea are happy now.

[Motterman]

I wonder if Chelsea are happy now.

That's 2 for Jose now....

[Vermont Red]

I'm of two minds on this. I do think its a tough job to be a ref and that they do take a lot of abuse. On the other hand, they do seem to be above any kind of criticism and never seem to pay for their mistakes.

Also, it may be nitpicky, but his dream of officiating the final was not scuppered by Liverpool making the final but by there being an all-English semi-final.

[FIFARay007]

That's 2 for Jose now....

Well maybe he'll be able to get that quadruple after all! :)

[I Will Brleak You]

I'm of two minds on this. I do think its a tough job to be a ref and that they do take a lot of abuse. On the other hand, they do seem to be above any kind of criticism and never seem to pay for their mistakes.

Also, it may be nitpicky, but his dream of officiating the final was not scuppered by Liverpool making the final but by there being an all-English semi-final.

Agreed. They generally do a good job given what they are dealing with most of the time, but they should be held accountable for bad calls. Maybe instant replay? As long as they find a way not to break the flow of the game, it may be a good idea on controversial calls. 5th official watching replays?

[I Will Brleak You]

That's 2 for Jose now....

That would be "The Double":p

I guess he wants to take as many people with him as he can when he gets the boot.

[haven]

Also, it may be nitpicky, but his dream of officiating the final was not scuppered by Liverpool making the final but by there being an all-English semi-final.

No way, man. If both Liverpool and Chelsea were ejected from the competition then he'd have been eligible to ref the final! :D

[Leto]

Also worth considering when you're talking about accountability (and very relevant to their complaints about abuse IMO) is that unless I'm living in the past, most referees do it in between holding down a real job. That said, I have no data to do with that point. If anyone does have any I'd be interested to see it.

[Dark Savante]

http://www.thelin.net/laurent/cinema/photos/le_bon_la_brute_et_le_truand/lee_van_cleef.jpg
Adios, "3 cards.."

[Alan_V]

On the other hand, they do seem to be above any kind of criticism and never seem to pay for their mistakes.


While it's rare, it does happen. Riley got, for a lack of a better term, "demoted" after the Thatcher/Mendes event. Something like 3 games in the lower divisions, wasn't it? I seem to remember Rennie 'disappearing' for a while two years or so ago and he hasn't been around much this season.

I'd like to see refs be more forthcoming and be allowed to speak publically. I'm sure many of them have watched the tape and asked "How in the h*ll did I miss that?" I've even seen and heard ref's own up to it. Thing is, we have a MUCH better view of things. Little chance of being 'screened' and of course there is the added advantage of the video and slo mo (ll that said, I'm still not for video replays). But bringng them to task for the odd missed call would undermine the integrity of their job and that's likely a worse scenario.

[Alan_V]

Also worth considering when you're talking about accountability (and very relevant to their complaints about abuse IMO) is that unless I'm living in the past, most referees do it in between holding down a real job. That said, I have no data to do with that point. If anyone does have any I'd be interested to see it.

In the Prem, these guys get something like 100K quid/year. With the schedule, I can't see them holding down second jobs unless their self employed.

[billyireland]

While it's rare, it does happen. Riley got, for a lack of a better term, "demoted" after the Thatcher/Mendes event. Something like 3 games in the lower divisions, wasn't it? I seem to remember Rennie 'disappearing' for a while two years or so ago and he hasn't been around much this season.

I'd like to see refs be more forthcoming and be allowed to speak publically. I'm sure many of them have watched the tape and asked "How in the h*ll did I miss that?" I've even seen and heard ref's own up to it. Thing is, we have a MUCH better view of things. Little chance of being 'screened' and of course there is the added advantage of the video and slo mo (ll that said, I'm still not for video replays). But bringng them to task for the odd missed call would undermine the integrity of their job and that's likely a worse scenario.
To an extent yes, but they are too imune in most sports (football included). If you want proof of this just type in "Wales Italy rugby 2007" to youtube and ask yourself why the ref was then passed off by the media as completely in the right for apologising while the Welsh players were chastised for having the audacity to - wait for it - try to win an otherwise meaningless game, rather than tie it.

Here we are: http://youtube.com/watch?v=IeKZPU9oNj8

[Leto]

In the Prem, these guys get something like 100K quid/year. With the schedule, I can't see them holding down second jobs unless their self employed.

Maybe I'm wrong then. Was David Elleray not a schooteacher while he was reffing?

[Alan_V]

Don't recognize the name so that might have been a while ago. The "full itme" ref thing started 2 or three years ago in order to improve the "professionalism" of the Prem refs. He may have been before that.

[Leto]

That could explain why I'm confused! That would have been roundabout when he retired (he was one of the Premiership's more high-profile refs before that, comparable to Poll now), and for some reason I remember there being a few stories in the media about him going back to being 'just' a teacher when he retired from reffing. Shame on me for generalising. I wonder if he was an anomaly or if the others gave up their day jobs with the introduction of full-time reffing...

[sdotsom]

Maybe I'm wrong then. Was David Elleray not a schooteacher while he was reffing?

Yup. I remember hearing that as well.

Just checked Wikipedia, and Elleray missed doing the World Cup in France because of school commitments. He's also been at the center of a lot of United stuff, that's why the name stuck out to me. Beckham from halfway, Giggs at Villa Park, etc..

[billyireland]

Yup. I remember hearing that as well.

Just checked Wikipedia, and Elleray missed doing the World Cup in France because of school commitments. He's also been at the center of a lot of United stuff, that's why the name stuck out to me. Beckham from halfway, Giggs at Villa Park, etc..
You left out Keane and Irwin's reds, and allegations that he has claimed to flat out does not like Irish people. :mad:

[sdotsom]

Yah I know, didn't want to bring that stuff up. Sent off Keano 4 timesi n his career..

[United Pumps]

You left out Keane and Irwin's reds, and allegations that he has claimed to flat out does not like Irish people. :mad:
Poor Billy.

[barthez4]

Don't recognize the name so that might have been a while ago. The "full itme" ref thing started 2 or three years ago in order to improve the "professionalism" of the Prem refs. He may have been before that.

Elleray's the one who sent off Keano 234543534 times.