‘I was called a disgrace by Chelsea star – I demanded UEFA make rule change’

Chelsea were knocked out by a strike from Andres Iniesta in the 90th minute but the game was littered with hugely controversial refereeing decisions

Chelsea face Barcelona in the Champions League and Enzo Maresca’s side are aiming for a big win against the La Liga heavyweights to power them through to the knock-out rounds.

This encounter is responsible for one of the most iconic matches in the history of the Champions League. In May 2009, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Barca in arguably the most controversial 90 minutes of football ever played. It seemed Barcelona were getting every decision their way by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, who became public enemy number one at Stamford Bridge.

Ovrebo turned down four penalty appeals from Chelsea, with the result subsequently knocking them out of Europe on aggregate. Incensed by the referee’s performance, a now-iconic moment was produced by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who shouted straight down the TV lens: “It’s a disgrace, it’s a disgrace, it’s a f***ing disgrace.”

Such was the drama after this match, Ovrebo was forced to change hotels after the game, received death threats and feared his own safety in the days afterwards.

In 2023, the Norwegian referee said referees should be allowed to speak to the media afterwards. He made the point that if he had a chance to explain some of his decisions in the infamous match then the situation would have been slightly diffused.

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“It would have been easier, looking at it now, to have a short press conference and talk about the match,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

“Then it would’ve maybe quietened down a bit more earlier. I was not allowed by UEFA to talk to the press.”

After his colourful protest, while wearing flip flops, Drogba was banned for four matches by UEFA, with Jose Bosingwa banned for three games with one match suspended for calling the referee a “thief”. Captain John Terry also remonstrated with the referee and disagreed with the decision for him to referee the match.

As part of 5Live’s Focus On Football week in 2023, Ovrebo touched on a potential press conference.

“One thing is to target me as the referee, and I’m in a way prepared for it, but also when they come to your house, that is not nice,” he said.

“If you had a short press conference or something like that you could explain your experiences, and the different calls you took. That would’ve been easier.

“Looking at it now I think it would’ve quietened down some of the noise because the media, and especially the media in England, can be quite harsh.

“In Norway, referees are allowed to talk to the press, we don’t have as many problems with openness so that could be something to think about in [other] leagues as well.”

Speaking to Marca in 2019, Ovrebo admitted making mistakes: “It was not my best day really. Some days you are not at the level you should be. I can’t be proud of that performance.

“There were several errors and everyone will have their opinion of those plays.”

Still to this day across the internet, fans hold a grudge against Ovrebo.

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