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Tuesday, 7 November 2006, 09:51 GMT

Hackett probes claim against Poll

Referee Graham Poll sends off Chelsea captain John Terry Referees' chief Keith Hackett will investigate Chelsea's claims that official Graham Poll said they "needed to be taught a lesson" at Tottenham.

Newspaper reports alleged Poll made the remarks and suggested he told Chelsea: "Your discipline is out of order"

Poll booked six Chelsea players and sent off John Terry in the 2-1 defeat.

Hackett told BBC Five Live: "I have very serious doubts that one of our most experienced and world-class refs would make that kind of comment."

He said: "It is disappointing. It puts doubt in the public's mind about the integrity of one of my referees but it will be investigated."

606: DEBATE
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Hackett, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, also revealed that all the officials were on open microphones - and his initial inquiries led him to believe Poll had not made the comments.

He added: "The player who has made the comments should be aware that the referee, along with his assistant referees, were all wearing microphones.

"My assessor can hear from before kick-off to the end what is being said. If anything untoward was said I will be able to discuss it with Graham's colleagues on the day.

"Already having spoken to one of his colleagues, who was listening, it has been flatly denied.

"I have told Graham not to comment on this matter because it may be investigated by the football authorities."

"If you're going to have a ref like that, you know it's not worth playing the game"
Ashley Cole on Graham Poll

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and his players were unhappy with Poll's handling of the defeat at White Hart Lane.

The Blues went 1-0 up before losing 2-1.

Terry also added to the controversy by claiming Poll gave him two differing reasons for his dismissal.

He said: "On the pitch, Graham Poll said to me the second yellow card was for the barge on Hossam Ghaly where I kept running.

"After the game he said it was for the fall when Ledley King and I fell. I am just really disappointed that it is my first time sent-off for Chelsea."

And defender Ashley Cole said: "With my booking, I said to him, 'I'm more than 10 yards. Why should I go back if I am more than 10 yards?'

"And he said, 'Because I said so.' I said, 'But I' m more than 10 yards', and that was it. Yellow card. No warning or explanation.

"I'm not moaning, I'm really not but we really shouldn't lose a game like that.

"Once again we scored a goal that was fine. I've seen it on TV and once again the referee has robbed us because if we had gone to 2-0 then the game would have been dead."

Cole believes that Chelsea, like his previous club Arsenal, are now being singled out by referees because of their success.

He added: "When I was at Arsenal and we started to win things, the referees started to question our discipline and give us yellow cards. I have come to Chelsea and it's exactly the same.

"It's definitely to do with the team that's winning most. Chelsea are not a dirty team. It's crazy. We have to stick together, put this game behind us, look forward to the next one and win it."



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Related to this story:

Mourinho hits out at referee Poll (06 Nov 06 |  Chelsea )
Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea (05 Nov 06 |  Premiership )

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