48 days to the World Cup: The player who earned 3 yellow cards before finally being sent off

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The FIFA rule states simply, “Sending-off offenses include: receiving a second caution in the same match.”

If you get two yellow cards, that equals a red card and a sending off.

That rule definition slipped the mind of English referee Graham Poll during a 2006 World Cup match between Australia and Croatia.

It was the third and final game for each country in the group stage. A win for Croatia and they would advance to the knockout stage, while Australia only needed a draw to move on. In the 66th minute with Croatia holding a 2-1 lead, Josip Šimunić was issued a yellow card for fouling Australia winger Harry Kewell. Thirteen minute later, Kewell would tie the game at two, putting the Aussies in a desirable position.

As Croatia fought for a winning goal, Šimunić was called for a foul in the 90th minute and Poll issued him a second yellow card. The problem was that Poll had written the wrong name down for Šimunić’s second caution, thereby forgetting a sending off was in order.

An ejection would finally come for Šimunić after the final whistle had blown. The Croatian center back was given a third yellow card by Poll for dissent. Of course, according to Poll’s own records it was a second caution, which meant Šimunić would finally earn a red card.

The match would finish 2-2 and Australia would continue on to the knockout stage as Croatia went home.

That wasn't Poll's only blunder in the match. He missed a clear handball, as well as a penalty for Australia after Mark Viduka was wrestled down in the box by Šimunić.

To Poll’s credit, he owned up to his mistakes and did not try to share blame with his assistants.

"What I did was an error in law. There can be no dispute,” Poll said. “It was not caused by a FIFA directive, it was not caused by me being asked to referee differently to the way I referee in the Premier League. The laws of the game are very specific. The referee takes responsibility for his actions on the field of play.