Ive already posted on the poor officiating in the last 2 US games, so I will take this opportunity to rake Grahm Poll over the coals.
The Croatia- Australia game was one of the most entertaining and bizarre matches I have ever seen. Granted it wouldve been a circus side show all on its own, but Poll really contributed. First, Mark Viduca was obviously wrestled down in the box- no call. Then there was the second handball in the Croatian box (he did spot the first) that shouldve been a penalty- no call. The goal scored by Kewell shouldve been disallowed for offside but wasnt. (OK thats the linemans fault) Then to top it all off there was the flurry of stupidity at the end of the match , resulting in Simunic getting his 2nd yellow and subsequent red.
the game where 3 red were given out (i think it was one of the USA games) the director of the FA was there, so i think the ref was throughing down the book, to show of and try and impress
In NO way did Ghana deserve a penalty against the U.S. Poor officiation, plain and simple. In the U.S. vs. Italy game, the ref was card happy. Mastroani did not deserve a red card either. We was hosed.
The Aussie/Croatia game actually had three yellow cards for one player. Simunic was carded three times and then sent off.
I have said it before that the English FA have gotten the refereeing situation all wrong. They force the best and most experianced refs (like Ellery, Durkin and Gallagher) to retire at a cirtain age and we are left with the less experianced ones (Like Andy D'Urso and Uriah Renny)
Graham Poll isn't normally that bad but the match was rather hectic so he could have made a honest mistake.
"there's only one way to win a war: shout, shout, and shout again!" - The Duke of Wellington ((Blackadder - Stephen Fry))
What happened to that nosferatu guy-yes he looks like that vampire from that cheesy old movie-? Collina from Italy, he was the best ref out there, but I have not seen him this cup.
While posting on all the other bizarre happenings , I totally forgot the 3 yellows Poll gave Simunic! FIFAs official site shows him getting his SECOND in the 94th minute , but it was really his 3rd. That should be enough to get him sent home all on its own
He may not be able to ref any substanual matches ever again because of that ... dispite David Beckham saying he is ont of the best of the English Refs ... might just be out of kindness though
Saying that Graham Poll wont get to ref a big game again is kind of hard.
I seem to remember Uriah Renne yellow carding a player in a southampton game twice and not sending him off. He had to ref some non-league games for a while but was back in the premeirship within a year.
"there's only one way to win a war: shout, shout, and shout again!" - The Duke of Wellington ((Blackadder - Stephen Fry))
It doesn't matter, the Premiership is the second biggest tornament in the world of Football next to the world cup. Loads of nations watch the premiership and the refs are under as much pressure in the premiership as they are in the World cup.
If a mistake is made it can and will be highlighted many times by pundits and fans alike.
I still believe that Graham Poll made an honest mistake and was let down by the linesmen and the forth official who should have told him that Simunic had already been booked after Poll gave him the second yellow card.
"there's only one way to win a war: shout, shout, and shout again!" - The Duke of Wellington ((Blackadder - Stephen Fry))
06-22-2006 10:11 PM
In NO way did Ghana deserve a penalty against the U.S. Poor officiation, plain and simple. In the U.S. vs. Italy game, the ref was card happy. Mastroani did not deserve a red card either. We was hosed. 
