Players 'behave better in Europe'

Players are more likely to behave themselves when they are playing in Europe than they are in the Premier League, it has been claimed.

According to former international referee Graham Poll, English-based players have become over-familiar with domestic referees and so are more likely to play up.

However, they are more wary of authority figures in Europe, he suggests.

"They're more respectful because they recognise they're being refereed by one of the elite referees in Europe," Poll told BBC Sport.

"Players [in England] see the same refs all the time. They have an impression of them."

Poll also noted that referees are treated better on the continent than they are in England.

"You are revered when you go abroad," he continued.

"You are taken to fantastic restaurants and you are treated on a par with a professional footballer."

Although Poll officiated in 329 Premier League matches and 43 Champions League games, he is best remembered for his dire performance at the World Cup in 2006, where he showed Croatia's Josip Simunic three yellow cards before sending him off.

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