Graham Poll

Graham Poll is a highly regarded former English football referee, known for his distinguished career officiating in the Premier League, UEFA, and FIFA World Cup tournaments. After being selected for the prestigious Premier League referees list in 1993, Graham Poll quickly established himself as a prominent figure in English football officiating. His distinguished career in refereeing commenced in 1980, with his ascension through the Isthmian League before becoming a Football League assistant referee in 1986 and a full Football League referee by 1991. Regarded as one of the best English referees of his era, Poll consistently took charge of numerous high-profile matches throughout his 26-year tenure in domestic football.

His growing international profile saw him represent England at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, followed by a significant appointment to referee the 2005 UEFA Cup Final between CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon. He further showcased his expertise at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. A notable moment during the 2006 FIFA World Cup involved the Croatia vs. Australia match, where an unprecedented incident led to Poll’s decision to retire from refereeing international tournament finals matches later that year.

In 2007, he further shared his career journey and perspectives through his autobiography, ‘Seeing Red,’ and continues to provide expert analysis and commentary on refereeing decisions and the sport to a wide audience.