POLL DROPPED FROM MATCH

Last updated : 10 November 2006 By Editor
From The Times:

Such has been the controversy surrounding Graham Poll over the past week that the referee is expected to be denied the chance to officiate the Barclays Premiership match involving Manchester United and Chelsea this month.

Under normal circumstances, Poll would be the first choice to take charge of such a high-profile game, but The Times has learnt that serious consideration is being given to “resting” the Hertfordshire official for the top-of-the-table meeting at Old Trafford on November 26, after recent criticisms levelled at him.

With Chelsea smouldering over his handling of their 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, fears abound that Poll might carry too much “baggage” into the match and that, if the referee were to make any contentious decisions against Chelsea, it could be perceived as him continuing a feud that originated at White Hart Lane.

While accepting that allowing Poll to referee at Old Trafford would attract unwanted scrutiny, senior refereeing figures are keen not to come across as weak-minded or bowing to outside pressure.

“Whatever people might think of Graham, he is a top referee,” a source said last night. “We have to be strong on this.”

Poll is expected to hold talks with Keith Hackett, the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the referees' governing body, before taking charge of Manchester City's match at home to Newcastle United tomorrow, but will then face an anxious wait until the referee for the Old Trafford match is announced on November 20.