The latest in our occasional series that pokes Salut! Sunderland noses into the business of others …
Graham Poll was a referee whose apparent excess of self-confidence was often interpreted as arrogance. There was much gloating when his three-card trick – in fact it was one card, the yellow one he showed three times to Josip Šimunic of Croatia in the 2006 World Cup – signalled the end of his international career.
In truth, it was his decision to stand down, directly because of his error, and he refereed for only one further season in the Premier before retiring.
He now does an excellent and necessary job, commenting in the Daily Mail on controversial issues arising from match officials’ decision.