Graham Poll sent home...& resignes

[DJsmallpaul]

Can't believe he's retired from international football, did he jump or was he pushed ? **** me it's a bit harsh sending him home aswell. Their under so much pressure these refs no wonder they make mistakes.

[dan the acid man]

yeah, fifa really do spoil world cups, every year we have shocking refs, all down to them being put under new pressures to clamp down on everything.

he did have a shocking match though :lol:

[DJsmallpaul]

Yea he's said cocked up quite a few international matches since Euro 2000 & thinks he's not cut out for international tournments which is quite brave of him to say. I propper felt sorry for him this afternoon as i watched him holding back the tears.

[Traxx]

Theres a good article in tonights echo about refs & fifa at this world cup.

[Will]

Is it on the net or something?

[Will]

I think ref's shouldn't be allowed to make money outside refereeing, with endorsements etc, I mean Collina's almost as iconic as the likes of Davids and could make loads of money so they all want to raise their profile I reckon and get a piece of the pie. They should be able to come on tv to explain a decision or admit they were wrong and that's it and they shouldn't tell you what their name is.

[Traxx]

Is it on the net or something?

THE World Cup usually provokes blood, sweat and tears. By the later stages, mainly tears.

Some poor soul is destined to miss this year's final, but he doesn't know it yet.

FIFA's flawed disciplinary system ensures at least one of the tournament's greatest talents picks up a second yellow card for standing within a yard of a diving opponent, and the spirit of Gazza looms.

Since the semi-final of 1990, when Gazza tugged the heart strings harder than the climax to Spartacus, public sympathy has always sided with the players, victims of over-officious referees hogging the limelight.

The standard of refereeing this year has been ghastly , but the justification for the mistakes is much stronger. Despite pre-tournament claims FIFA would be clamping down stronger than ever on the cheats, every game is overrun with exaggerated falls and that odious miming call for a yellow card.


The most distasteful trend is the desire for players to get their opponents sent off.


Diving used to be a cynical ploy aimed at winning penalties or dangerous free-kicks on the edge of the box. Nowadays, you're just as likely to see a striker crease up in agony in his own half, with the sole purpose of getting his marker booked. This is the most snidey, despicable development in football.

When Portugal had a man dismissed against Holland, their main objective was no longer scoring a second goal, but tricking the referee into making the numbers even again.

Holland retaliated not by sending on extra forwards in pursuit of an equaliser, but by trying to reduce the Portuguese to nine men.

Both countries succeeded because the referee was incompetent - but his inept performance was provoked by the players.

There's no longer any virtue at the highest level of the game. The post-match handshake between the teams is sheer hypocrisy.

It would be easy to point the finger at foreign players, but we know such deceit has infiltrated our own league as well as the continent's.

As the World Cup is the ultimate trend setter, one suspects it will be even worse in the Premiership next season unless action is taken now.


In the meantime, the remaining eight games of this World Cup will continue to be dominated by undeserved bookings, players taking a plunge after a tap on the toe, and more mime artistry than you'd see at a Marcel Marceau convention.


When the suspensions start to kick in, the sobbing superstars will wag their fingers at the referee and bemoan the injustice.


No matter how bad the officials have been, their response should be short and sweet.


"Take a look in the mirror first, mate."

[dan the acid man]

great article that, hit the nail on the head 100%

[Aratron]

brilliant