GRAHAM POLL: Referees respect the fire of bitter derby battles

27 November 2009 00:30
I've refereed nine different 'real' top-flight derbies. It's thefans that make them special; the intensity, the emotion, the desire forbragging rights. [LNB]The host stadium makes a difference, too. The Merseyside derby, for instance, is more ferocious when Everton are at home. It's not the same at Anfield.[LNB]Some local derbies don't always feel that way. Take Chelsea versus Fulham that game lacks the passion of a North East or South Coast derby. [LNB]Even when it was an FA Cup semi-final, like the one at Villa Park in2002, most memorable for Chelsea fans throwing celery on the pitch. [LNB]Derby day blues: Fulham were unable to sell their ticket allocation at Villa Park[LNB]  More from Graham Poll... GRAHAM POLL: Why FIFA must act on handballs as Paul Scharner shows us that players will never change23/11/09 GRAHAM POLL: Thierry Henry's handball is only the tip of the iceberg 20/11/09 Graham Poll: Cheats never prosper? Well, France certainly did in Paris19/11/09 GRAHAM POLL: Why Gary Neville needs to take off his red-tinted specs16/11/09 GRAHAM POLL: Play-off contenders aren't alone in bid to reach World Cup16/11/09 Graham Poll: The Official Line - Sir Alex Ferguson's verdict is a total sham12/11/09 GRAHAM POLL'S OFFICIAL LINE: Germany could hold the answer to combating divers like David Ngog11/11/09 GRAHAM POLL'S OFFICIAL LINE: Diving David Ngog should hang his head in shame10/11/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  A local derby not to be forgotten was the feisty last encounter between Derby Countyand Nottingham Forest at the old Baseball Ground in April 1997.[LNB]Matches between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield and Leeds against United at Elland Road are not derby games, but they feel the same. [LNB]The best derby I refereed was Arsenal versus Tottenham in the 2001 FA Cup semi-final. There were 64,000 fans inside Old Trafford, equally split and creating anincredible atmosphere. [LNB]Sunderlandbeating Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park was another exciting event. Iawarded a penalty to Newcastle in the last minute, but Alan Shearermissed.[LNB]Referees will usually allow players a little more latitude. Whetherthat is not issuing a card too early or playing more advantage to buildtempo, as long as players are only strong and physical and not cynicaland violent that's good officiating.[LNB]They beat the 'plastic derbies' games such as Newcastle v Middlesbrough and West Brom v Birmingham. They're not real derbies. Just local fixtures.[LNB] If we were playing now, red cards would fly! Sportsmail chews the fat with some Arsenal and Chelsea legendsForget El Gran Clasico or the Manchester derby, the raw fury at Burnley shook City boss Mark Hughes the mostTwo tribes go to war: It's derby day on Sunday with Arsenal v Chelsea, Everton v Liverpool and Wolves v Birmingham [LNB] [LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People:Graham Poll, Alan ShearerPlaces:Newcastle, Birmingham, Elland Road, St James' Park

Source: Daily_Mail