Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Martin Atkinson favourite to referee FA Cup final
THE OFFICIAL LINEThe best moment in a referee's domestic career is receiving a phone call from the FA informing you that you will officiate the FA Cup final.[LNB]There is always speculation within the refereeing fraternity as to who will get the nod and once their team is knocked out, each man usually breathes a huge sigh of relief.[LNB] This season's favourite to referee the showpiece event at Wembley is Martin Atkinson, the Leeds-based referee who saw his team eliminated in a third-round replay against Arsenal which appeared to clear his path to the final.[LNB] Centre of attention: Atkinson (centre) is set to get the nod for the FA Cup final[LNB] More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: Scholes must tackle less if he is to be remembered as a great17/04/11 Graham Poll: Assistant referee got both big calls right against Chelsea12/04/11 Graham Poll: Refs want to show red card to crazy rules... but they can't11/04/11 Graham Poll: How ref Lee Mason went from wonderful to woeful at Blackpool 10/04/11 Graham Poll: Goal-line official should have helped referee with penalty row07/04/11 Graham Poll: About time Roo! FA finally show some backbone04/04/11 FA must take the hard line with Rooney and ban him for three games. But they won't.03/04/11 Graham Poll: Show some Respect... this abuse of referees must end now31/03/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE But the dispute with Sir Alex Ferguson over his performance in Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea seemed to put another obstacle in his way.[LNB]MikeDean would have been aware of that during Manchester City's narrow victory on Saturday but did not allow it to affect his judgement. [LNB]He wassuperb, not only in correctly dismissing Paul Scholes but in his overall handling of a difficult game. With United out, Atkinson remains favourite to take charge of City's clash with Stoke on May 14.[LNB]Five years ago I was in the position of refereeing a semi-final in the knowledge that had Chelsea won, Dean would realise his dream and referee the FA Cup final.[LNB]Although the FA had broken with tradition and named the referee before the last four ties had taken place, Dean would not be allowed to fulfil the appointment if Liverpool made it through.[LNB]Luis Garcia's goal won the match for Rafa Benitez's side and they went on to face West Ham which meant Dean received the dreaded phone call later that week to tell him that he had been replaced by Alan Wiley for the 2006 final at the Millennium Stadium.[LNB]Thankfully the FA learned from that mistake and returned to the tradition of appointing the referee during the week after the semi-finals.[LNB]If Atkinson does not get the game then there are a host of potential candidates who could handle the occassion including Andre Marriner, Mark Halsey and Mark Clattenburg. Phil Dowd will not be on the list however thanks to Stoke's stunning win over Bolton. The Port Vale fan will be cursing his team's arch rivals as their triumph ended any hope he had of being handed the honour.[LNB]Good week for...Olegario BenquerencaBad week for...Mark Halsey Benquerenca and his Portuguese team of officials were outstanding in their handling of the Champions Leaguequarter-final second leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Perhaps Benquerenca will see Manchester United again at Wembley?[LNB]Halsey missed a blatant push by Aston Villa's Richard Dunne on West Ham's Carlton Cole which should have led to a red card for the Villa defender. That would have been his 10th dismissal - the same as Paul Scholes.[LNB] Bolton 0 Stoke 5: Five-star Potters stun Wanderers to reach first ever FA Cup finalMan City 1 Man United 0: Yaya dashes Fergie's treble dreams at Wembley [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, Rafa Benitez, Richard Dunne, Mike Dean, Martin Atkinson, Carlton Cole Places: Leeds, Liverpool
