Graham Poll's official line: 'Where video evidence exists why not use it?'

01 March 2011 02:24
Former Premier League and World Cup referee Graham Poll gives Sportsmail his verdict on Wayne Rooney's elbow on Wigan's James McCarthy and explains why the England striker was not punished.[LNB]Why was Rooney let off?[LNB]Simply because the referee dealt with the incident at the time and FIFA do not supportthe 're-refereeing' of incidents which referees act upon whether rightly or wrongly. The statement issued indicates that referee Mark Clattenburg was happy with the action he took on the pitch. Without using video replays that does not surprise me.[LNB] Lenient: Mark Clattenburg (right) deemed Rooney's elbow as a yellow card offence[LNB] Could the FA not have taken retrospective action anyway?[LNB]Only if no action was taken on the field. If that had been the case they would have sent a video clip to Clattenburg, who would have said what he would have done had he seen the incident. The statement would indicate that he would not have supported charging Rooney even if he had not seen what happened.[LNB]But we thought that happened with Ben Thatcher on Pedro Mendes in August 2006?[LNB]After Manchester City's Ben Thatcher escaped a red card for his 'assault' on Pedro Mendes of Portsmouth both the referee, Dermot Gallagher, and Thatcher's club supported retrospective action. Thatcher was subsequently banned but FIFA wrote a strong letter of disapproval to the FA for 're-refereeing' the incident even though it was done with the approval of the referee.[LNB] Rooney clatters his elbow into James McCarthy[LNB] What changes should the FA make to stop this happening again?[LNB]This is where things get confusing as the FA say they are hamstrung by FIFA regulations and yet other countries (Australia and Holland, I believe) are acting retrospectively over diving. FIFA believes that referees must be supported, even when they make errors. [LNB]When I was a referee I thought this was right. Now I am out of the refereeing fraternity I believe TV is proving there are injustices. FIFA need to update and allow laws to vary at different levels of the game. Where video evidence exists why not use it to add credibility to officiating.[LNB]Errors are made and that is understandable given the pace of the game and players'propensity to cheat/deceive referees. Allow an independent panel to adjudicate in a fair, consistent and transparent way and accept that we are living in a technological age.[LNB] Rooney free to face Chelsea as FA confirm no action over elbowFerdinand: Chelsea's big-money signings won't buy them Premier League title[LNB]  Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Dermot Gallagher, Graham Poll, James McCarthy, Ben Thatcher Places: United Kingdom, Australia, The Netherlands

Source: Daily_Mail