The Three-Card Trick that Wrecked Graham Poll's Final Dream

26/5/2010 5:59 AM GMT By Simon Redfern

Our series on mistakes that have littered previous World Cup Finals concludes with another blunder by a referee. This time, it's the English official Graham Poll, who will never be able to forget his unhappy involvement in a match four years ago in Germany.

CROATIA v AUSTRALIA
Stuttgart 2006

Graham Poll was in contention for the ultimate refereeing honour - officiating in a World Cup final - until his three-card error in the Group F encounter between Croatia and Australia at the 2006 Finals.

The Hertfordshire official cautioned Croatian Josep Simunic in the 61st and 90th minutes of the 2-2 draw in Stuttgart before eventually sending him off in the 93rd minute for dissent.

Poll later explained that he failed to issue a red card in the final minute of normal time because he had written down Australia's Craig Moore in his notebook for the second caution instead of Simunic.

It was an eventful match for Poll, as he also sent off Croatia's Dario Simic in the 85th minute and Australia's Brett Emerton two minutes later, as well as awarding the Socceroos one penalty for hand-ball by Stjepan Tomas in the 38th minute, but missing a more obvious one by Tomas in the second half.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced after the match that if Australia had not reached the last 16, they would have been within their rights to demand a replay.

Unsurprisingly, Poll was nominated as one of the 14 referees to be sent home after the group matches and he immediately announced his retirement from tournament Finals.

He continued to officiate in international matches, the Champions League and the Premiership until hanging up his whistle in May 2007.

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/05/26/top-blunders-the-three-card-trick-that-wrecked-graham-polls-fi/