FIFA to axe Poll?
Much has been made of the sometimes confusing decisions referees have taken at this World Cup, but the officials of the recent Croatia vs. Australia Group F match have a great deal of explaining to do. At the centre of the farce, is none other than England’s ‘best’ referee, Graham Poll, who during the game must have become the first referee in the professional game to have issued three yellow cards to one player in a single match.
Croatia’s number three, Josip Simunic, was cautioned in the 61st minute, and then received his second booking in the final minute of the game. The Croatian defender, dismayed by the prospect of his World Cup reaching a premature end, began to head for the tunnel when he realised that Poll had failed to show him a red card and continued to play on. Simunic was not so lucky immediately following the final whistle, when following a confrontation with Poll he was issued his third yellow card of the game and finally given a red card.
In what was surely one of the worst performances by a referee in a World Cup in recent memory, Poll not only failed to apply the rules of the game appropriately with regard to Simunic, but he lost control of a game in which he booked eight players and sent off three.
Such a poor show is thankfully not without its consequences. FIFA’s referees committee will meet on Wednesday to decide which match officials will stay in Germany and who will be sent home, with Poll expected to be told that his services at the World Cup are no longer required.
FIFA’s referees committee President Angel Maria Villar Llona had words of support for Poll describing the English referee as “exceptional and a great sportsman, who would be able to overcome the situation thanks to his strong personality and love of the game.” However in a statement the committee did admit a serious error had been made. According to reports, when Poll gave Simunic his second booking, he mistakenly wrote down Australia’s number three, Craig Moore. Failing to realise this blunder, Simunic was allowed to continue.
Referees are, of course, human beings and liable to make mistakes. This has long been a part of the game and yet we have very much struggled to accept it. The reality is that their job is far from an easy one and we should be able to forgive them for that every so often harsh sending off, incorrect offside decision, for that dubious penalty verdict, no matter how much it may make our blood boil.
However what we must not tolerate are referees who blatantly fail to apply the rules of the game correctly. If the match official fails in this area then the game quickly develops into a joke. Poll’s shambolic performance overshadowed what was a momentous achievement for Australia in reaching the last 16. And where were his assistants? It is simply disgraceful that of the four other officials present, none of them attempted to intervene by taking advantage of the communication system that links them together.
By Andrew Fenichel
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
