Poll and Dallas to ref at World Cup

England's Graham Poll and Scot Hugh Dallas have been selected to officiate at this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

The two British referees are among 72 (36 referees and 36 assistant referees) who will take part in the tournament.

Dallas was involved in France 1998, but he becomes only the second Scottish official to make it to two World Cups finals.

He admitted that the finals in France had been a highlight of his career, but he is delighted to once again be experiencing the sport's biggest event.

Dallas said: "Being there in France in 1998 was fantastic and this will be another brilliant experience.

"It is a great honour to be selected again for the World Cup finals because they are the highlight of anyone's career."

Dallas could find himself officiating in the latter stages after an impressive display in the quarter-final between Italy and hosts France four years ago. Donald McVicar, the Scottish Football Association's head of referee development, admitted: "Hugh's been a splendid ambassador for Scottish refereeing.

"This is Hugh's fourth major tournament, having already taken part in the Olympic Games in 1996, the 1998 World Cup and the European Championships in 2000."

Also on the referees' list will be baldheaded Italian Pierluigi Collina, who is widely regarded as the best in the world, and Denmark's Kim Nielsen, who sent off David Beckham during England's defeat by Argentina at France '98.

FIFA, football's governing body, will also be holding a seminar before the tournament at which referees will be issued with directives aimed at clamping down on diving, excessive use of force and the outlawed tackle from behind.