my liverpool fc

PETER CROUCH is a marked man, says former World Cup ref Graham Poll.

Officials in international matches have been told to clamp down on the Liverpool striker, according to the now retired official.

And ironically Crouch is now suspended for England’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday.

Poll made the shock revelation during a radio debate yesterday, when he revealed that referees had been ordered by FIFA to specifically target Crouch.

“At the World Cup last year we were shown videos of England games,” said Poll. “The head of refereeing at FIFA said ‘Look at this big fella Crouch. He’s a real pain and he’s getting away with too much. We need to mark him as a player we need to look out for.’

“We watched England’s warm up games and had been out there for two or three weeks before, and it was pointed out the way he used his arms. I tried to defend him, being English.”

Crouch was then booked in England’s first match in Germany against Paraguay.

“You have to ask yourself as a ref if you are looking out for him all the time or only when he has done something that draws your attention,” added Poll

“To prepare is fine, to prejudge isn’t – and lo and behold he went and got booked in his first game.”

Crouch was shown only two yellow cards in 49 Liverpool appearances last season, but collected his second England caution in five qualifying games against Estonia in June and is now suspended.

The news will come as a new blow to Crouch, who has started only two Champions League qualifiers so far this season and was left out of Liverpool’s squad entirely for the Premiership games against Aston Villa, Sunderland and Derby.

Derby striker Craig Fagan, meanwhile, has been charged with violent conduct after appearing to stamp on Liverpool’s Alvaro Arbeloa during Saturday’s 6-0 defeat at Anfield. Fagan appeared to stamp on the Reds defender as the pair tangled on the touchline.

The incident was not seen at the time by referee Alan Wiley and went unpunished.

The former Hull player has until 6pm tomorrow to admit or deny the charge, which is a punishable by a three-match ban.