Geoff Hurst, the Hand of God and the Biggest Rows in World Football - Hardcover

Poll, Graham

3.64

56 ratings by Goodreads

9780007313747: Geoff Hurst, the Hand of God and the Biggest Rows in World Football

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0007313748 ISBN 13: 9780007313747

Publisher: HarperSport, 2009

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Ex-referee and now fearless writer and football pundit, Graham Poll is no stranger to controversy. His latest book is an entertaining and provocative reappraisal of the major incidents in World and English football down the years – from Geoff Hurst’s goal in ‘66, through Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ to the infamous Battle of the Bridge in 2009.

Graham Poll, England’s highest profile referee of the last two decades, refereed over 400 Premiership games, involving more than 1.5 million spectators, and at two World Cups, placing him at the centre of some of the most controversial incidents in football.

So what does Poll make of some of the biggest rows in English and World football down the years? Would modern referees have reached different key decisions? What can the game learn from the mistakes of history?

In this follow-up book to Seeing Red, Poll’s bestselling memoirs, we get an informative, frequently provocative but always entertaining romp through the pages of football history and the major incidents that sent shockwaves through the game. The book revisits in startling clarity all those much talked about football moments that continue to be the topic of pub debate among football fans the world over – and turns everything on its head.

What was the real reason for the linesman giving Geoff Hurst’s goal in 1966 at Wembley? In the infamous Maradona ‘Hand of God’ game, why should the behaviour of Argentine players have helped the ref disallow the goal? How does Kim Milton Nielson, the official who red-carded David Beckham against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, view the decision now? And was video technology used to 'convict' Zinedine Zidane of his World Cup Final head-butt?

Framed with other fascinating football facts, personality profiles and colourful anecdotes, these stories and more – including football's most recent controversies – provide a rich seam of material for Graham Poll, in his usual no-nonsense style, to set the topical football agenda and to enrich our knowledge and understanding of the beautiful game.

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Review:

Praise for Seeing Red:

‘Poll's fascinating response to years of criticism as one of England's top officials is far more interesting than the standard fare trotted out by most players these days – it also evokes the rarest of things in a football fan: sympathy for the referee.' FourFourTwo

Praise for Graham Poll:

‘He’s made a real contribution to football with his ability and personality’ Sir Alex Ferguson

About the Author:

Graham Poll was born in 1963. A one-time employee of Coty – where he turned down a Sales Directorship to pursue a refereeing career – he has over 27 years of experience as an FA Premier League and international referee. He has been the English representative at two World Cups and Euro 2000, and has handled games from the Bernebeu to the San Siro, and from Old Trafford to Stamford Bridge. He retired from refereeing in the summer of 2007 and currently works in the media and as a motivational speaker at corporate events.

Mick Dennis is the football correspondent on the Daily Express and collaborated with Poll on his bestselling autobiography Seeing Red.

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