Referees’ chief hits back at Chelsea over criticism of Poll
Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard will both speak to the Football Association following claims Poll targeted Chelsea during their defeat to Tottenham on Sunday at White Hart Lane.
Poll will also be spoken to by the FA as they gather information, as will his two assistants and the fourth official. Hackett, meanwhile, will meet with Mourinho.
“Mr Mourinho is a world-class, top manager and I will be privileged to speak to him and I am pleased he wants to do that with me,” Hackett said. “It shows he cares and wants to understand.
“We have already been in touch since Sunday and I will meet him again at the club’s training ground if necessary to run through a number of issues regarding referees.”
Cole was angered by Poll’s performance in the defeat to Spurs and the full-back was one of six Chelsea players issued yellow cards during the match, with John Terry picking up two of them.
Terry claims Poll offered two explanations for his second booking but Hackett said: “All the referee has to do in terms of the player is ask what the player’s name is and then issue a card, he doesn’t have to explain why that player has been sent off.”
Hackett, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, added: “What we are talking about is the integrity of one of my referees and I want to assure the public that I have some doubt — without trying to prejudice the case — about what is claimed to have been said.”
Hackett believes listening to a recording of Poll’s performance will prove the official did not target Mourinho’s side.
“We now wire our referees up so we have Graham operating with an open microphone and the two assistant referees and the fourth official can actually listen in to what is said during the game,” he added.
“That level of conversation was listened to by three other people and it will be interesting to see how that proceeds.”
When asked whether Poll denies targeting Chelsea, Hackett added: “Absolutely, that denial is without any doubt. He’s made that very clear.”
Poll made a high-profile blunder at the World Cup when he booked Croatia’s Josip Simunic three times in a match, but Hackett insists Poll is “still top drawer”.
Mourinho sent Hackett a private email yesterday. Although the exact contents of the email are to remain private, it addresses some refereeing issues which have arisen this season.
Mourinho made it clear he was open to discuss these and hearing the views of all sides.
Mourinho said: “I am happy to hear Mr Hackett is prepared to meet and I will meet with him when he wants. I have confidence that he is a football man and he respects the views of other football people.”
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