Poll given red card for World Cup blunder
Poll given red card for World Cup blunder
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Wednesday, 28, Jun 2006 09:49
Englishman Graham Poll has paid the price for his World Cup blunder after being one of 14 referees sent home by Fifa.
Poll, 42, has been ridiculed for his performance in the Australia versus Croatia group game after issuing three yellow cards to Croatia's Josep Simunic before sending him off.
The Hertfordshire-based official who was originally tipped to referee the World Cup final, also failed to award Australia two penalties and failed to spot Harry Kewell appearing to be in an offside position for his equalising goal.
In a statement, Fifa referees committee president Angel Maria Villar Llona said he understood Poll's defence that his assistants had also failed to spot the errors.
He added: "Graham Poll is an exceptional referee and a great sportsman, who will be able to overcome the situation thanks to his strong personality and love of the game.
"Thursday evening's 2-2 draw between Croatia and Australia in Stuttgart saw referee Graham Poll make an error.
"The experienced official is disappointed at having committed the error, the first such mistake in his 26-year career."
Fifa confirmed that Poll said he had accidentally noted down the name of the Socceroos' number three Craig Moore when booking Simunic for the second time.
Also on the plane home is Russian Valentin Ivanov who is in the World Cup record books after brandishing 16 yellows and four reds in Holland's stormy encounter with Portugal last Sunday.