Poll attacks weak FA
Graham Poll has described the Football Association as “inherently weak” after admitting their handling of his bust-up with Chelsea last season forced him to bring forward his retirement from the game.
The Tring official, 43, took charge of his last match in England in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final at Wembley on Monday and has wasted no time in expressing his dissatisfaction with the FA – and its chief executive Brian Barwick.
The row started when Poll dismissed Chelsea skipper John Terry for two yellow cards in a match against Tottenham in November.
Terry was later reported as saying Poll had changed his story over why the defender had been sent off, while there were also suggestions that Poll had sent the player off to teach the Blues a lesson, with Frank Lampard and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also wading into the row.
Poll is upset that the FA did not charge the parties he believes were guilty of undermining him during the recriminations .
He told The Daily Mail he was unhappy with the nature of the FA’s ensuing investigation into the incident.
“He said: ”All you (the FA) need is for me to say ’no’ (to Chelsea’s claims). Full stop, move on. Charge John Terry, charge Ashley Cole, charge Frank Lampard, charge Jose Mourinho.
“My anger is not directed 100% at the FA, not Chelsea Football Club.”
Poll went on to recall a conversation with Barwick in the aftermath of the Chelsea fall out.
He said: “Brian Barwick thought he could just call and say ’there you go old chap, stiff upper lip.
“But he picked the wrong moment, I absolutely ripped into him and told him the truth. Which was this – ’It’s not about Graham Poll, about vindication for me, or about Chelsea Football club’.
“It’s about the FA saying ’We are the custodians of the game and we have to show the world of football that if you speak out against a referee you get punished and if you lie about a referee – my word you’re going to get punished,” he added.
“Let’s make it clear to everyone who plays football and manages football teams - this behaviour is not acceptable.”
Barwick’s response left Poll deeply unimpressed.
“He huffed and puffed, huffed and puffed and then he said goodbye,” said Poll.
“I just think the FA are inherently weak when it comes to these issues. We’ve been eroding the the power of the referee for years and years. I’ve been refereeing in the Premiership since 1993, I’m the most experienced referee they’ve got and yet my credibility no longer holds.”
Poll admits that he would have retired anyway in 2008 but concedes that the bitter taste of the FA’s refusal to back him helped him decide to bring that decision forward.
“The Chelsea case, which ran from November 5 to January 12, curtailed my career by one season.
“I was always going to stop by 2008. I’ve had to fight since January to enjoy football matches.
“My credibility was stripped not by Chelsea trying it on but by the FA letting them try it on.”
