POLL takes his "howler" further

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Poll Quits Tournaments

Updated: 16:00, Thursday June 29, 2006

 

Graham Poll has quit officiating at international tournaments after his embarrassing World Cup exit.

 

The English referee made his shock announcement in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.

 

Poll told Sky Sports News he deeply regretted his mistake, which he called "inexcusable".

 

His decision comes a day after FIFA dispensed with the Englishman's services for the remainder of the World Cup finals.

 

The Buckinghamshire-based official will continue to officiate at club level.

 

Poll, 42, said: "I'll be refereeing in the Premier League next season from August 19, but it's time for me to let go (of international tournaments).

 

"Nobody got hurt and nobody died and it's a game, even though it is very important."

 

He told Sky Sports News: "What I did was a public mistake, but it didn't effect the outcome.

 

"It meant a player who shouldn't have been on the field stayed on the field for two or three minutes longer than he should have done."