ENGLAND’s Howard Webb will be the referee for Sunday’s World Cup final.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll believes Phil Dowd used a technicality in the rules to avoid sending off Nemanja Vidic during Manchester United’s Carling Cup victory over Aston Villa yesterday.

FORMER Premier League referee Graham Poll expects UEFA to hand out long suspensions to Chelsea pair Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack following last week’s Champions League exit.

GRAHAM POLL has insisted the Chelsea conspiracy theory over their controversial Champions League exit “just couldn’t happen”.

Graham Poll has insisted the Chelsea conspiracy theory regarding their controversial Champions League exit “just couldn’t happen”.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has backed Rafael Benitez’s claim that Alex Ferguson receives lenient treatment from the Football Association.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists his side can still challenge for the Barclays Premier League title despite the loss of Cesc Fabregas for up to four months.

AFTER the first 60 minutes at Middle Eastlands I had mentally crafted this column as a thesis on which set of supporters this weekend looked the biggest set of plums — the Manchester City fans swathed in tea-towels and Brazil shirts or those braying Geordies with their paranoid banners about “the Cockney Mafia.”

Former World Cup referee Graham Poll has claimed the game’s top officials have been told to “look out for” England striker Peter Crouch.

Former top referee Graham Poll believes the England captaincy should be taken away from John Terry unless the defender shows more respect to officials.

GRAHAM POLL has branded Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as the “worst culprit” of the Premier League managers for his personal criticism of referees.

Soccer referee Graham Poll has admitted the personal abuse he received this season from fans ridiculing his error at the World Cup played a part in his decision to retire.

Graham Poll has described the Football Association as “inherently weak” after admitting their handling of his bust-up with Chelsea last season forced him to bring forward his retirement from the game.

UEFA have confirmed that Graham Poll will referee the Euro 2008 qualifier between Finland and Belgium in Helsinki on June 6.

Harry Redknapp put referee Graham Poll’s latest – and probably last - controversial decision behind him and admitted next season will be an even tougher challenge for Portsmouth after just missing out on Europe.

PORTSMOUTH’S brave bid for a UEFA Cup place came up short as referee Graham Poll, in his last Premiership match, disallowed a 68th-minute effort for offside when Niko Kranjcar’s shot appeared to go in off Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos.

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0

Fulham went nine matches without a win after fighting for a precious point in their bid to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premiership.

Jose Mourinho insists that he has the greatest of respect for referees as he prepares his side to face Tottenham in their FA Cup quarter-final replay at White Hart Lane tonight.

Blackburn 1 Arsenal 0

Benni McCarthy heaped more knockout woe upon Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal after clambering off the bench to shoot Blackburn into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic late winner at Ewood Park.

Tottenham have appealed to the Football Association over Robbie Keane’s red card for handball in the Barclays Premiership win over Bolton at White Hart Lane.

Bottom club Leeds boosted their survival chances with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Elland Road but manager Dennis Wise claims one of the team ’will never play for the club again’ after news of his line-up was leaked to their opponents.

Bristol City staged a tremendous fightback to claim a fourth-round replay at Middlesbrough on February 13.

West Ham United 3 Fulham 3

CHELSEA captain John Terry has admitted a charge of improper conduct following his comments about referee Graham Poll after being sent off against Tottenham in November.

Chelsea and England captain John Terry has admitted a charge of improper conduct following his comments about referee Graham Poll after being sent off against Tottenham in November.

A stunning Peter Crouch overhead kick, a Steven Gerrard volley and a late goal from Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool a 3-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield and lifted them into third place in the Premiership today.

Charlton 2 Fulham 2

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp hailed his side's character after a second-half comeback against Sheffield United - but referee Graham Poll again took centre stage.

John Terry has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct, following comments made about referee Graham Poll following his sending off in Chelsea’s match at Tottenham.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey is taking a well-earned break floating along the Nile on a dhow to discuss tactics and the riddle of the diamond with the Sphinx. So for the next few weeks we’ve called Allan Prosser from the subs’ bench to mediate over your opinions and give the controversy pot a stir.

John Terry has less than two weeks to respond to the Football Association’s improper conduct charge, brought for his remarks about referee Graham Poll after the Premiership champions’ defeat at Tottenham.

John Terry has been charged with improper conduct regarding comments made about referee Graham Poll following his sending off in Chelsea’s match at Tottenham.

Former top referee Graham Barber believes Graham Poll has not had enough support from footballing authorities in the controversy over his recent performances.

Manchester City 0 Newcastle 0

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard insists the Barclays Premiership champions have no axe to grind with referee Graham Poll.

CHELSEA have refused to comment on Alex Ferguson’s criticism of Jose Mourinho’s planned meeting with referees’ chief Keith Hackett.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol has backed Graham Poll following the referee’s controversial performance at White Hart Lane last week.

Chelsea have been labelled the strongest team in Europe by Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill.

REFEREE Graham Poll walked from the Goodison Park pitch with the home fans howling “cheat” at the World Cup official as Arsenal booked their place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Everton 1 Arsenal 0