Source: Daily_Mail
GRAHAM POLL: Time for the TV experts to learn the red card laws...
The most annoying aspect of refereeing televised fixtures is when you are criticised despite making the correct decision in the laws of the game. [LNB]Opinions are vital for good debate but the facts need to be stated correctly. [LNB] In the spotlight: Gabriel Agbonlahor is brought down by Nemanja Vidic[LNB] More from Graham Poll... REVEALED: How the referee spared the blushes of of both Bridge and Terry28/02/10 Graham Poll: Ryan Shawcross tackle on Aaron Ramsey was no accident 28/02/10 THE LIST: Graham Poll's top 50 football referees - Nos 50-4128/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: Bridge vs Terry - Countdown to a handshake...26/02/10 Graham Poll: Chelsea should have had a penalty and Walter Samuel off24/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: Mascherano's tackle on Barry is worth a five-match ban 22/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: It's about time that Wenger took his red-tinted glasses off21/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: Ref Hansson was right to allow Falcao's bizarre goal18/02/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEDuring the Carling Cup final, I listened to experts claiming the lawsays that as a goal scoring opportunity was denied when Nemanja Vidicpulled Gabriel Agbonlahor's shirt, a red card should have followed.[LNB]During the game Sky Sports' Andy Gray couldn't see any reason why 'last man' Vidic was not dismissed. Might it be that the phrase 'last man' does not appear within the laws?[LNB]Frustrated with Gray's analysis, I turned over to the BBC for the half-time words with Gary Lineker. Alan Shearer, Alan Hansen and Gareth Southgate all agreed that ref Phil Dowd was wrong not to dismiss Vidic. [LNB]Shearer, the master scorer, understandably applied his own logic to the position that Agbonlahor was in. Shearer himself would probably have scored from there. [LNB]But that is not the point in law, which states that the player must be heading towards goal when he is fouled. This point was finally offered by Southgate but that was quickly passed over. [LNB]Referees really don't mind when they are criticised after making a mistake - as long as law is correctly quoted. [LNB]In this case the analysts could have quoted all of the law, noting that there is no mention of any 'last man', and conclude that Vidic should have been sent off as it was only his presence that resulted in Agbonlahor heading away from goal - after all football is a game of opinions.[LNB] Fury: Martin O'Neill (left) was frustrated with Phil Dowd[LNB]But to quote law incorrectly for me is inexcusable. They should be informing and educating the public but to do so they need to know law themselves and along with current players, the experts analysing the game just don't feel it necessary to learn and understand the laws of the game they claim to love. [LNB]So, despite the 'controversy' in the first five minutes at Wembley, the final was an entertaining game which Dowd refereed well enough. [LNB]He was a little inconsistent with his yellow cards but that is no reason to highlight him in his first major final.[LNB] Good week for...Mike DeanBad week for...Roberto Martinez [LNB]Despite being fatigued from a really tough Europa League game inEindhoven on Thursday when he sent two players off andcautioned six others, Dean was on duty for the hectic Chelsea-Manchester City clash this weekend.Again he excelled with an mature performance in which he wascalled on to make some very big decisions, two penalties and two redcards. All were correct and this performance really underlines hisstatus as our best referee on current form. Next up for Dean is theBrazil v Ireland on Tuesday - just reward for aref who is enjoying the big-match experience. [LNB]The Wigan manager highlighted that he felt his team were due a few decisions in a press conference earlier in the week following the poor decision to allow a clearly offside goal for Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe last weekend. This weekend brought further disappointment for the Spaniard as the Premier League's newest referee, Anthony Taylor, firstly gave a penalty following a clear dive from Keith Fahey and then failed to dismiss Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell following a shocking tackle which cleaned out opponent, James McCarthy, and the corner flag which felled assistant Trevor Massey.[LNB] [LNB][LNB]. [LNB] Explore more:People:Martin O'Neill, James McCarthy, Graham Poll, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Liam Ridgewell, Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez, Gabriel AgbonlahorPlaces:Birmingham, Ireland, Brazil
