I am a great admirer of people who refuse to give up not matter what life throws at them. It’s wonderful that some amongst us have the will to carry on when everything around them tells them to throw in the towel.
However, even for these people there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough. And, I would imagine, our old friend Graham Poll has now reached that point.
As referees go, Poll has had an almost impeccable career, officiating at the very highest level of the domestic and international game for many years.
But, and this a big but, he and the plot seem to have very much parted ways over the last few months.
It all started to go wrong – horribly wrong – during the World Cup when he stunningly showed three yellow cards to the same player in a match. And it has pretty much been downhill since then.
In just about every English match he has officiated since the summer he has been subjected to a torrent of light-hearted abuse from fans taking the Mickey out of him for his World Cup howler.
Now his performances appear to have been affected and he can’t seem to avoid controversy in any game he controls – a sort of reverse Midas touch: everything he comes into contact with turns to crap.
Last week he sent off John Terry for doing absolutely nothing wrong and this week he sent off Everton’s James McFadden for apparently calling him a “cheat” – something the player has publicly denied.
Both decisions appear harsh, not to use the word wrong, and both the clubs involved have kicked up the most enormous fuss about Poll’s actions.
Now his bosses have decided not to award him control of the Manchester United vs Chelsea match later this month in a bid to avoid further controversy.
Graham himself would probably admit when they start to take the big matches off you, your time as a top class referee is over.
After the World Cup fiasco, Poll announced his retirement from international football – a clear case of jumping before he could be pushed. Maybe the time has come for him to do the same from domestic football and retire while he still has some pride intact.
It would be sad to end a relatively distinguished career prematurely. But, as Graham himself admitted, his real dream in football was to one day officiate the World Cup Final.
And, with that dream in tatters, maybe it is time to hang up his whistle once and for all. Before he ends up being made to swallow it.
A busy week
It’s been a busy week in the old inbox. Here are excerpts from a few of those you sent in. Looks like my going to the rugby didn’t go unnoticed… likewise my comments about Arsene Wenger.
“First of all we thank you for coming on Saturday and giving us a chance to show you what rugby is all about. Thanks for your positive comments on the organisation. Although our national side didn’t perform to our expectations, it has become tradition that the crowd supports and enjoys themselves to the very last minute.
“We have six fixtures from eight left in our division and I can assure you that the next fixtures in May will be very different when 10 of our regulars return to the squad after injuries, suspensions and club commitments overseas. At the end of the day Malta lost but the crowd left relatively cheerful having enjoyed the atmosphere and you described it very well in your article. We look forward to hosting you yet again in May for another fun day out.” Nick Gatt – PRO, MRFU.
“Fair comment on Wenger – it’s what most people in England thought of the incident. In fact I think he and Arsenal have been bad sports ever since he took over. They seem to think its unfair that anyone should beat them and if they do lose its always because the opposition, ref, etc have been unfair – never because they are better – note games versus Chelsea, Barcelona, Man Utd. Good to see others are seeing it at last.” – Joe Lewis, email.
“No James, I’m not writing you hate mail regarding your rugby article. But instead, a thank you for telling it through two eyes, and not just a football eye. Indeed, Malta’s rugby union team has reached some acclaim in its deserved rise up the rankings, and the MRFU is surely to be commended on the job it has done. In a football centralised country such as Malta, our people must expand their horizons and appreciate all the other sporting options outside of the world game (football).
“‘A fragmented match’ you say well, possibly because rugby union is more of that than the code of rugby league, that made its debut in Malta last October. A free-flowing code of rugby, rugby league sees Malta ranked inside the top 12 in Europe, thanks to the passionate efforts of a committee based in Australia among Malta’s biggest community outside of Malta itself. Furthermore, Malta are ranked inside the top 20 in the International Rugby League rankings. In no other team sport competed in globally does Malta rank in the top 20. Only last week, a rugby league player of Maltese descent signed a Lm100,000 deal to join an English club. Surely, these opportunities must be exclaimed to the people of Malta.
“I visited Marsa Stadium last October when the Malta Knights – as they are known, defeated, yes, defeated, the national team of England! For the record, Malta 36, England 6. A thumping in fact. In this day and age, I cannot remember the last time a Maltese national team beat a team of the size and prestige of England in a team sport.
“The Maltese must be commended. I appreciated your report. It opens the eyes of those that are entrenched in football mania.” Jason, email
Contact James on: [email protected]