Ex ref Philip Don praises Poll

Last updated : 13 December 2004 By Paul Lagan
Former ref supremo Philip Don has come out and backed controversial referee Graham Poll.
Poll allowed the quick free-kick which inched Arsenal back into the lead in the blockbusting top of the table clash on Sunday.

Don said: "The referee was following the letter of the law. He asked the player (Heney) if he wanted a quick free-kick or for the wall to be moved back 10 yards. He opted for the quick free-kick. What he did was perfectly legal.
"The advantage goes to the team suffering an infringment, in this case Arsenal."

Poll, to his credit has gone public with his views of the incident: "The whistle doesn't need to be blown. I asked Henry 'do you want a wall?'. He said 'Can I take it please?' He was very polite. I said 'yes'," said Poll.
"I deal with the laws of the game. I deal with fact." Poll added: "I gave the signal for him to take it. That's what he did.

"The same thing happened when I refereed Chelsea against West Ham in an FA Cup replay two years ago - when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored - and I don't remember them complaining about that."


Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho, fearing a FA charge, refused to get embroiled in the controversey, instead citing Poll as an "excellent referee".
He also stated that "mistakes are made by refs, players and managers."

Nice one Jose.


Does the rule need to be changed, or were we well and truly mugged?
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