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| December 20, 2001 | Thursday | Shawwal 4, 1422 |
Henry’s misconduct reported
LONDON, Dec 19: Referee Graham Poll has reported Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to the English Football Association (FA) for his behaviour at the end of Newcastle United’s controversial 3-1 win.
Poll, who stood by his decision to send off two players and award Newcastle a penalty on Tuesday night, was faced with a volley of abuse from Henry, who had to be restrained by team mates and Arsenal staff.
“We’ve had a very unseemly incident as we came off the field of play which I have reported to the Football Association (FA),” the referee told Sky Sports.
“I’m disappointed because I was here after the very sad death of Gerald Ashby, wearing a black armband, and I don’t think he would have been very pleased to see some of the conduct we saw tonight, and I don’t think that’s a fitting tribute to that man.”
Former referee Ashby died of a heart attack on Tuesday.
Parlour’s dismissal just before the break turned the game Newcastle’s way as Arsenal led 1-0.
Though he later red-carded United’s Craig Bellamy, Poll’s decision to award an 86th minute penalty — converted by Alan Shearer for a 2-1 lead — upset Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Explaining his decisions, Poll told the FA website: “Parlour was sent off for a foul which brought the first yellow card and then the tackle from behind which brought the second.
“Bellamy was booked for dissent and then sent off in the second half for a foul.”
The penalty was awarded for Arsenal defender Sol Campbell’s challenge on Newcastle forward, Laurent Robert.
Poll said: “It looked a clear tackle from behind and the only reason I did not send off the Arsenal player was that I thought the Newcastle player was running away from the goal when he was fouled.”—Reuters
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