Graham Poll's incisive insight into football is distinctive, coming from his prime position as the man in black, the one in control, the eye that sees all. A Premier League referee since 1991 and 10 years as an international referee, Graham Poll has handled some of the toughest games in the Premiership involving Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, as well as European Championships and World Cups—in total more than 1500 matches. What is it like to referee the biggest matches in international football? What really goes on between the players in the tunnel before a match and in the dressing room after? Who are the nastiest footballers? And the funniest? Who is the smartest manager? And are the bureaucrats ruining the beautiful game? Controversial and opinionated, Poll has crossed swords with some of the biggest names in world football and shares private conversations with the likes of Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Sepp Blatter, and Steve McClaren, and the inside story behind controversial incidents involving Roy Keane, David Beckham, Patrick Vieira, and current England captain John Terry, among others. Poll also talks about the infamous 2006 World Cup match when he failed to send off a Croatian player after three yellow cards in a crucial tie against Australia, returning home early in disgrace and with his career in meltdown. The games, the players, the managers, the suits—the most outspoken referee in the modern game tells it as it really is.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
'Undoubtedly Graham Poll has been this country's top referee over the past ten years' Sir Alex Ferguson 'England's No 1 match official has lifted the lid on the disillusionment shared by many colleagues' Daily Mail
About the Author
Graham Poll retired from refereeing in the summer of 2007.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book,
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This review is from: Seeing Red (Paperback)
This book was a great read, couldn't hardly put it down and when I did I was anxiously awaiting a moment to get back to it. I have gained a whole bunch of respect for referees after reading this, didn't realize how much pressure they are under to be at top form. I have also learned so much about the game after reading this book. No doubt this is a must read for football (soccer) fans old and new.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yellow Card,
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This review is from: Seeing Red (Paperback)
It took me the better part of a year to finish this book because I kept getting annoyed and putting it down. This is not a how-to-be-a-referee book. It is a very personal biography by a top-flight professional soccer referee. Mr Poll has been a controversial figure in English soccer for many years. He has earned much of the controversy by his own attitude, which has been described by some as arrogant. This book does not dispel that claim (although he tries). What annoyed me to no end was this attempt to portray himself as a man who strives for excellence and is made to suffer for it by an unfeeling, unappreciative, and less-than-perfect world. Having played and coached in a large metropolitan competitive league when I was a younger man, there are two things I can state with absolute certainty: (1) Regardless of what players and coaches may say or how they may act, in the end they are both grateful for and appreciative of competent and dedicated referees; (2) I have no recollection of any player or coach (including junior league) every voicing a desire to become a referee. Having said that, I can only admire Mr Poll's drive and dedication to be the best at a thankless but absolutely necessary job. This book opens and closes with Mr Poll's most notorious career episode: the 3 yellow cards issued to the same player in the same World Cup match. I think a fair person would agree that to define a referee's career which spans more than two decades by one unfortunate event is patently unfair and disproportionately distorting. In addition, the error was of no real consequence to the tournament outcome, or the game outcome for that matter. So why is Mr Poll curled up in the fetal position and crying his eyes out? Why do so many people take such great pleasure in his misery? For much of the book, Mr Poll builds a case for himself as a man who has trained mentally and physically to become the very best at his profession, all the while maintaining a grounded and humble attitude. He must absorb cruel and unfair treatment from fans, the press, players, managers, club owners, the league, and even treachery from his own referee brethren in order to achieve the holy grail: referee a World Cup final game. His can-do attitude and solid work ethic will propel him forward regardless of these obstacles. However, by the end, it is apparent that he does not possess the thick skin to weather the storm. He is, in fact, a very sensitive and high-strung man who suffers greatly and easily. I believe that much of the excess criticism directed towards him is brought about by that same reaction people have whenever a starched-shirt slips and falls at a formal event and soils his clothes. We look forward to a good laugh at his expense. None of this is meant to discount his great contribution to the sport. He was a great referee. Think for a minute about how difficult it must be to work for decades at a profession which brings no glory. While all the players around you are tallying up wins, goals, shutouts, pennants, titles, cups... What do you have to show? Another game in which you committed no errors in judgment? According to whom? Certainly not the fans or players or coaches or owners or .... Truly a thankless job. So I can't blame him for taking pride for his accomplishments. I think this is a well-written book by an important participant in a great sport. I commend Mr Poll for his service and for deciding to share his perspective with us. I especially found the appendix where he answers the top 10 FAQs very interesting and worthy of another book. However, for trying to pass himself off as merely a humble servant of the game who is misunderstood.... yellow card.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, different perspective,
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This review is from: Seeing Red (Paperback)
This was a good and entertaining read about the life a professional referee. You always hear about the players, managers, and media sides of the stories but never really the referee's perspective. Poll offers insight into the FIFA referee selection process and training regime, how he became a ref, how he quickly moved through the ranks, and the obvious personal toll on high profile sports officials. He claims he's not an arrogant, attention-seeker but I got the sense that deep down he really enjoys the spotlight. Highlights for me include the banter with the players and the 2006 World Cup.
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