© The Sun

 

RED-FACED Graham Poll was packing his bags in Germany last night after he confessed to one of the worst refereeing blunders in World Cup history.

 

The 42-year-old Englishman was facing the axe from tournament officials after he booked Croatia’s Josip Simunic THREE times before sending him off during Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Australia.

Under football rules, players should be dismissed if they receive TWO yellow cards.

Millions of TV viewers watched in amazement as the Premiership ref also appeared to miss two clear penalty offences.

 

And he allowed Harry Kewell’s last-gasp equaliser for the Aussies to stand — despite the Liverpool player appearing to be offside.

 

Last night Poll — dubbed The Thing From Tring after his Hertfordshire birthplace — apologised for his mistake and admitted his dream of taking charge of the World Cup final was over.

He said: “After reviewing a DVD of the match between Australia and Croatia, I realise I made an error in not sending off Josip Simunic. I regret and apologise for this mistake and realise that my World Cup is now over.”

Poll’s error in Stuttgart could have cost Australia a place in the knockout stages had they lost.

 

 

But Guus Hiddink’s men hung on to finish Group F runners-up, despite Croatia playing several minutes with the twice-booked player.

A FIFA official admitted last night that had Australia not got through, they could have demanded a REPLAY due to Poll’s error.

One pal of the ref said: “He knows that there’s no way back after such an amazing blunder.

 

“Failing to send a player off after two yellow cards is the sort of mistake that would cause an outcry in a school game, let alone the world’s biggest tournament.

“FIFA bosses evaluate each ref after the first round and decide who to send home. Graham has already started packing his bags.”

Organisers are set to watch tapes of the game, which also saw red cards for Aussie Brett Emerton and Croat Dario Simic, and tell Poll his fate this weekend.

 

But FIFA President Sepp Blatter has already put the boot in.

 

He said: “It simply should not have happened. We had four officials and what isn’t understandable is that nobody intervened.”

 

Asked if the Englishman would be sent home, Blatter said: “I place my trust in the referees’ committee. I think they have enough tact to deal with this case.”

 

He added: “Of course, we can’t excuse it, but we should understand it. Referees are human beings and humans make errors.”

Ex-Premiership referee Jeff Winter was shocked by Poll’s gaffes.

 

He said: “His performance was a slap in the face for English officials. It was something you see on Hackney Marshes, not on the biggest stage of them all.”

Fellow former ref Clive Thomas said: “It is a great shame for English and British refereeing. The reputation is a disgrace now."

 

Before the World Cup, Poll admitted mistakes would not be tolerated. He told an interviewer: “If you make a big mistake it will be your last game.”

Poll was sent home after the Euro 2000 group stages having failed to make the grade. He also returned early from the last World Cup after controversially ruling out two Italian goals — against Croatia.

Poll’s wife Julia last night refused to discuss his performance.

 

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006290198,00.html

He deserved what he got! I understand that everyone makes mistakes but he nearly cut short the Socceroos World Cup journey due to his false judgement. Not good enough.

it was predictable that they'll send him home. it was a terrible performace from Graham

They should have shown him a red card live on TV!!:P

I'm not complaining.

Yeah he deserved it, Graham Poll :disappointed:

 

Does this mean he won't be refereeing for the English Premiership anymore or what?

Yeah he deserved it, Graham Poll :disappointed:

 

Does this mean he won't be refereeing for the English Premiership anymore or what?

 

Only LiverPOLL matches!!:P

shocking performance. good game though

There once was a ref named Poll,

Who dug himself in a big hole.

He found it so hard to show a red card,

And deny Harry Kewell a goal!!

 

:rolleyes:

Did you write that you rself, Mark? :thinking:

 

Anyway, I feel sorry for him. It was a terrible mistake....and very embarasing for him. Imagine the abuse he'll endure when he refs in the Premiership next season, if they allow him. I mean, one of the assistants should have told him.

Did you write that you rself, Mark? :thinking:

 

Anyway, I feel sorry for him. It was a terrible mistake....and very embarasing for him. Imagine the abuse he'll endure when he refs in the Premiership next season, if they allow him. I mean, one of the assistants should have told him.

 

Of course!:smug:

 

He'll look up at the stands and see a sea of yellow and red cards!!:P

That guy is quite interesting!:laugh3: Very creative mistake!

Just a bad day for him. Normally, he's a pretty good ref.

i still don't think there was a mistake.:dozey:

I'm not complaining.

You should, you could have scored 3 goals, if there weren't for his oversight for that 11meter shot.What's fair is fair.

When Josip Simunic got booked at the end me and my friend lost it lauging. It just seemed so funny.

The latest lightbulb-esque joke hitting the playgrounds across the world.

 

How many English referees does it take to send off a player?

i feel sorry for poll now. however if australia didn't make it through as a result of his mistake i would have been incredibly pissed off.

 

but none of the other officials realised aswell.

 

i think they should be blamed too. to blame poll for everything is being too hard on the man.

 

although australia should have had 2 more penalties.

 

it should have been a free kick from that croatian guy touching the ball with his hand in the penalty box.

 

and it wasn't an accident either.

 

that was a CLEAR foul.

 

beyond clear.

 

it was ridiculous.

 

but still. i feel sorry for him. :disappointed:

The latest lightbulb-esque joke hitting the playgrounds across the world.

 

How many English referees does it take to send off a player?

 

:laugh1: hahaha poor guy.

It's even worse than previously thought - apparently he wrote down the name of the Aussie "number three" in his book instead!!:P

awww craig moore! poor guy, he wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone get a yellow card. :disappointed:

i actually remember someone being shown 2 yellow cards and not being sent off before in a Premiership match a few seasons ago .. it wasn't Graham Poll but hmm its not the first time this has happened.

 

its a shame cause the other two games he officiated, he did well and he is usually a decent ref. we'll definitely still be seeing him in the Premiership next season though.

My mum just told me that he's a friend of my grandad's. Ooooh ahhhhhh.

i feel sorry for poll now. however if australia didn't make it through as a result of his mistake i would have been incredibly pissed off.

 

but none of the other officials realised aswell.

 

i think they should be blamed too. to blame poll for everything is being too hard on the man.

 

although australia should have had 2 more penalties.

 

it should have been a free kick from that croatian guy touching the ball with his hand in the penalty box.

 

and it wasn't an accident either.

 

that was a CLEAR foul.

 

beyond clear.

 

it was ridiculous.

 

but still. i feel sorry for him. :disappointed:

 

and to add to this.. Australian second goal was a clear offside...

so he has made all possible mistakes Reffree can do :laugh3:

It was inevitable.......................