Refereeing

**Superhoops** · 22/06/2006, 11:04 PM

Anyone see 'the Premiership's best Referee' Graham Poll's performance tonight in the Aus v Croatia game.

Surely the worst WC refereeing display of all times. Missed a blatant penalty when Simunic took down Viduka with a tackle round the waist that Brian O'Driscoll would have been proud of. Even though he did get one right when rightly awarding the Aussies a penaly when Tomas handled, he denied Australia another penalty when he missed a blantant handball by a Croat defender. He then gave Simunic three yellow cards before giving him a red after the final whistle.

He wasn't helped by one of his assistants who failed to spot that both Kewell and Viduke were offside for the Australia equaliser.

A truly terrible display of refereeing

**DmanDmythDledge** · 22/06/2006, 11:06 PM

I didn't see Poll tonight but generally in this WC the refereeing has not been great. I've noticed that the assistants are also getting a number of offside calls wrong on numerous occasions.

**Metrostars** · 23/06/2006, 12:02 AM

I would also like to add that the penalty for Ghana against the US was a very bad decision. Completely changed the game and allowed Ghana to sit back in the second half.

**Soko** · 23/06/2006, 12:42 AM

I know a guy who missed his yankee, a pretty big sum of money, because Poll blew up early on what was a certain Australian goal at the end. Brutal performance and I hope he gets punished for it

**RonnieB** · 23/06/2006, 1:04 AM

I havent been able to see many of the games due to time difference and the fact sky own all live rights here

but there seems to be a crazy amount of yellow cards per game. Are the games really that "dirty"?

**Metrostars** · 23/06/2006, 1:24 AM

Originally Posted by RonnieB

I havent been able to see many of the games due to time difference and the fact sky own all live rights here

but there seems to be a crazy amount of yellow cards per game. Are the games really that "dirty"?

To me, it seems the game has become a non-contact sport.

**Superhoops** · 23/06/2006, 5:56 AM

Originally Posted by Soko

I know a guy who missed his yankee, a pretty big sum of money, because Poll blew up early on what was a certain Australian goal at the end. Brutal performance and I hope he gets punished for it

The only punishment he is likely to get is that he will not get any more games to do in this WC, but he will be back in the Premiership and the CL next season.

**padzer** · 23/06/2006, 7:56 AM

Originally Posted by Soko

I know a guy who missed his yankee, a pretty big sum of money, because Poll blew up early on what was a certain Australian goal at the end. Brutal performance and I hope he gets punished for it

I had Brazil -2, Italy, Ghana and Australia in an accumulator, shocking decisions all through that Oz and Croatia game. How de fcuk can he blow up with the ball in the 6 yard box? And how can ye book a bloke twice and not send him off?

I feel raped.

**pineapple stu** · 23/06/2006, 8:31 AM

I assumed it was a free out for the challenge on the keeper myself.

**Dodge** · 23/06/2006, 8:56 AM

Yeah I thought that too Stu, and it was fairly obvious. Shocking in general though. FIFA's official records have changed and now Simunic has only 2 yellows. The one fore the tackle on viduk in the 89th minute is gone. All to save Poll I presume. It fools nobody

**razor** · 23/06/2006, 8:57 AM

Originally Posted by padzer

I had Brazil -2, Italy, Ghana and Australia in an accumulator, shocking decisions all through that Oz and Croatia game. How de fcuk can he blow up with the ball in the 6 yard box? And how can ye book a bloke twice and not send him off?

I feel raped.

The Ghana win was fortunate to say the least and at the end I reckon if Poll didn't blow for full time he would have given a free out cos one of the Croatians was definitely fouled.

**OwlsFan** · 23/06/2006, 9:02 AM

Easy to criticise referees and linesmen. The latter's job for offside is almost a physical impossibility: how can he watch to the left when the ball is being kicked and at the same time watch to the right to see if a player is offside. If he has a squint it might help.

A referee can only give what he sees. If Poll and presumably the linesman didn't see the handball, how can he give it and if he did see it I have no doubt he would have given it.

As the the extra time, the number of minutes are only put up for guidance since it is hardly exact numbers all the time. I really think they should adopt the rugby "stop the clock" and hooter at the end. Once the time has passed on his watch, he's entitled to blow up and for everyone who had a bet on Australia winning, I am sure there were plenty who had a bet on a draw.

No excuses for booking someone 3 times though

**Roadend** · 23/06/2006, 9:15 AM

In defence of the refs, those idiotic FIFA clowns change the rules before every World Cup and then scrutinise every single decision they make to see if they can continue refereeing, adding to the already immense pressure. The three cards thing was inexcusable alright though.

**Dodge** · 23/06/2006, 9:50 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

A referee can only give what he sees. If Poll and presumably the linesman didn't see the handball, how can he give it and if he did see it I have no doubt he would have given it.

Ow he decided the Croatian headed it is a far more pertinant question. A way more obvious handball than the one he gave earlier

Originally Posted by Roadend

In defence of the refs, those idiotic FIFA clowns change the rules before every World Cup and then scrutinise every single decision they make to see if they can continue refereeing, adding to the already immense pressure. The three cards thing was inexcusable alright though.

They didn't change any rules this time and its only right they scrutinise every decision. No referee is perfect but the better ones (the ones who make less errors) remain in the competition

**Roadend** · 23/06/2006, 10:11 AM

They did change the rules you'll find. Yellow cards for breathing on your opponent was brought in.
Also as regards the better refs staying in, Merk was world referee of the year the last two years and he's had a poor competition. If he's the yardstick and pressure to get things right is affecting him, what chance for any of the others.

**OwlsFan** · 23/06/2006, 10:18 AM

I suppose in theory they hope to make the game more free flowing by trying to cut down on the physical side of it. That leads to more bookings and more players missing games.

They have had some success - the back pass rule was excellent. Players pretending to be hurt is still a problem. If you stay down for more than 5 seconds you must leave the field to be treated and be only allowed back after the next stoppage in play.

**Beavis** · 23/06/2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

To me, it seems the game has become a non-contact sport.

Agreed, it is regrettably becoming less physical . I play LSL and referees are obviously influenced by what they see on television. I've found frees are given far more readily, esp in the last year or so, for things trying to muscle someone off a ball or any fair but zealous tackling.
My usual response when I get a cheap free against is 'Its no f**king basketball ref'

**Superhoops** · 23/06/2006, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Easy to criticise referees and linesmen. The latter's job for offside is almost a physical impossibility: how can he watch to the left when the ball is being kicked and at the same time watch to the right to see if a player is offside. If he has a squint it might help.

A referee can only give what he sees. If Poll and presumably the linesman didn't see the handball, how can he give it and if he did see it I have no doubt he would have given it.....

Even you accept this as a valid point, you have to ask how he missed the 'rugby tackle'. If he did not see that then you have to query either his eyesight or his competence.

**OwlsFan** · 23/06/2006, 12:25 PM

Rugby tackle is a bit of an exaggeration wouldn't you think? He might have given it if Viduka didn't throw his hand up in the air making it look like a dive. As they say in the old cliche, I've seen penos given for more and for less.

In any event the better of the two teams went through despite the egotistical performance of Mr Poll. I have a lot of sympathy for referees but I don't actually like Poll.

**OwlsFan** · 23/06/2006, 2:46 PM

Interesting commentary on Poll here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...06/5108722.stm

Surprising that none of the Australians pointed out to Poll his error on the two yellows.