In his third game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Croatia vs Australia, he cautioned Croatian defender Josip Šimunić three times before sending him off.

[4] Having held a FIFA badge since 1996, he took charge of European matches, including the UEFA Cup final between CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon in 2005.

The ball bounced into Liverpool's net, but Poll disallowed the goal, claiming that he had already blown the whistle to end the game.

The television slow-motion pictures proved that this was incorrect, and after retiring in May 2007, Poll confessed that disallowing the goal had been a mistake that he regretted.

[6] Poll refereed the Italy versus Croatia game at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played on Saturday 8 June 2002.

Poll was given one more appointment at that world cup: Fourth Official to Pierluigi Collina in the second round match in which Turkey beat Japan 1–0.

Poll sent off Jean-Paul Abalo of Togo for a second bookable offence, and the match was eventually won by South Korea 2–1.

It was my error and the buck stops with me.In the press release, he also claimed that he had asked FIFA to be allowed to go home, to be with his family after the trauma of his mistake in the match.

[3] He continued to referee in the Champions League and on international games, but said he would not allow himself to be nominated to represent The FA at any tournament finals.

He also appeared regularly as a pundit on Setanta Sports Football Matters show hosted by James Richardson and Rebecca Lowe.