Today’s Question: Is Graham Poll F***ing Shite or a F***ing Cheat?

There are very few things in this world that can ruin my football watching experience. A fridge devoid of beer, a raging case of hemorrhoids, and ESPN commentators all make things rather unpleasant, but they are quickly being surpassed in the annoyance department by referee Graham Poll.

The one-armed, mathematically challenged card bandit from the World Cup has continued his questionable ways this season in the English Premiership and arguably is helping to affect the standings as much as any one player. After his questionable sending off of Chelsea captain John Terry during their defeat by Tottenham on Sunday, Poll was back at it Wednesday handing a straight red card to Everton’s James McFadden. What was McFadden’s offense?

It later emerged that Poll believed McFadden had called him “a f***ing cheat.” The Scots winger told reporters he had said “That’s f***ing shite.”

Fair enough. You can’t expect the referee to understand a bloody Scottish accent anyway. It is also within the rules for a referee to toss a player for verbal abuse, although I would imagine Poll has probably heard worse in his day.

But all of that is really besides to point, in my opinion. The fact is that players and coaches no longer respect Poll as an honest and capable referee. When you see one of his games you can’t help but end up watching him because he makes himself the center of attention. Instead of being the silent conductor during the match, he is the tuba player playing off-key for 90 minutes with the constant need to be in the spotlight. His calls are inconsistent and what is a red card for one player is not even a caution for another.

I’ll be the first to recognize that officiating is not an easy profession and I’m usually willing to give the men in the middle the benefit of the doubt. In the case of Graham Poll, however, I think it is time for the Premiership to show him the red card.

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Category: English Premier League