Graham Poll
 |
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| Full name | Graham Poll | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
29 July 1963 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England |
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| Other occupation | Television pundit, newspaper columnist | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| ?–1991 | Isthmian League | Referee | |
| 1986–1991 | Football League | Asst. referee | |
| 1991–1993 | Football League | Referee | |
| 1993–2007 | Premier League | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1996–2007 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Graham Poll (born 29 July 1963) is an English former football referee in the Premier League and is considered the best English referee of the last 25 years in a list maintained by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS). With 26 years of experience, he was regarded as one of the most prominent referees in the Premiership, often taking charge of the highest-profile games. His final domestic game in a career spanning 1,544 matches was the Championship play-off final on 28 May 2007 between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion.
As well as refereeing the 2005 UEFA Cup Final he was the English representative at two World Cups and UEFA Euro 2000.
At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, he refereed two matches successfully. In his third game, Croatia vs Australia, he cautioned the same player three times before sending him off. Poll retired from refereeing international tournament finals matches, citing his error in the match. He continued to referee in the Premiership, Champions League and on international games, but said he would not allow himself to be nominated to represent the FA at any tournament finals as he felt he had his chance.
Poll took up the whistle in 1980, progressing from the Isthmian League to become a Football League assistant referee in 1986. Five years later he became a full Football League referee, before being selected for the list of Premier League referees in 1993.
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