Ex-refs' chief backs Poll in free-kick row

Former referees’ chief Philip Don has defended Graham Poll’s decision to allow Thierry Henry to score with a quick free-kick against Chelsea yesterday.

Henry struck in the 29th minute at Highbury while Petr Cech was organising his defensive wall.

The Premiership clash ended 2-2 but Blues boss Jose Mourinho was unhappy with the nature of the Gunners’ second goal.

But Don said Poll was applying the rules of the game and was correct to let the goal stand.

“The referee does not have to blow the whistle to restart the game, it can be the voice, the hand, the arm or the nod of the head,” Don said.

“The advantage should always go to the non-offending team and on this occasion it was Arsenal.

“Referees have been told to ask the player ‘do you want to take the quick free-kick?’ or ‘do you want me to get the wall back 9.15 metres?’

“If they say the quick free-kick the referee tends to move away and allow the kicks to be taken.”

Don believes quick free-kicks give a fair advantage to attacking teams. If all set-pieces were delayed “you allow the team who have committed the offence to regroup and get their men back behind the ball, and the advantage is taken away from the non-offending team,” according to Don.

Don was head of referees for the Premier League and revealed all clubs were informed of free-kick options.

“We spoke to all the Premier League clubs, as well as all the Football League clubs in the summer of 2003 explaining what the situation was,” he added

“We gave them the option of either the quick free-kick or the ‘ceremonial’ free-kick. Players and clubs were aware of what referees were doing,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.