Chelsea v Barcelona: Referee's verdict

[Tilla]

Former Football League referee John Deakin said he had never seen a reaction as angry as the one from some Chelsea players on Wednesday night, and admitted that the appointment of referee Tom Henning Ovrebo to the game was "maybe a step too far".

By John Ley
Last Updated: 8:23PM BST 07 May 2009


Ugly scenes: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba continues to harangue referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after a controversial night at Stamford Bridge Photo: AP

However, Deakin dismissed the belief that Ovrebo should not have been handed a match of such magnitude because he comes from Norway.
"There have been some excellent referees from Scandinavia, like Kim Milton Nielsen, Anders Frisk and Terje Hauge," he said.

Here Deakin assesses the five key decisions that shaped the game:
1) Dani Alves's tackle on Florent Malouda.
Verdict: Penalty. "Obviously it was inside the area, even though the referee gave the offence outside."

2) Eric Abidal's tug on Didier Drogba.
Verdict: Penalty. "Yes, he pulled his shirt."

3) Gerard Pique’s handball.
Verdict: Penalty. “This was probably a penalty because it was hand to ball, so the referee should have given it.”

4) Samuel Eto'o's handball.
Verdict: No penalty. "The one at the end was not a penalty but the reaction that followed was accelerated by the fact that Barcelona had just scored."

5) Abidal's dismissal.
Verdict: No red card. "People forget that incident, but it shouldn't have been a sending off."

[Peter R]

Former Football League referee John Deakin said he had never seen a reaction as angry as the one from some Chelsea players on Wednesday night, and admitted that the appointment of referee Tom Henning Ovrebo to the game was "maybe a step too far".

By John Ley
Last Updated: 8:23PM BST 07 May 2009


Ugly scenes: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba continues to harangue referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after a controversial night at Stamford Bridge Photo: AP

However, Deakin dismissed the belief that Ovrebo should not have been handed a match of such magnitude because he comes from Norway.
"There have been some excellent referees from Scandinavia, like Kim Milton Nielsen, Anders Frisk and Terje Hauge," he said.

Here Deakin assesses the five key decisions that shaped the game:
1) Dani Alves's tackle on Florent Malouda.
Verdict: Penalty. "Obviously it was inside the area, even though the referee gave the offence outside."

2) Eric Abidal's tug on Didier Drogba.
Verdict: Penalty. "Yes, he pulled his shirt."

3) Gerard Pique’s handball.
Verdict: Penalty. “This was probably a penalty because it was hand to ball, so the referee should have given it.”

4) Samuel Eto'o's handball.
Verdict: No penalty. "The one at the end was not a penalty but the reaction that followed was accelerated by the fact that Barcelona had just scored."

5) Abidal's dismissal.
Verdict: No red card. "People forget that incident, but it shouldn't have been a sending off."

My take:

1) No foul no penalty... they both grabbed each other .
2) No foul no penalty... the "tug" didn't bring him down...he dived.
3) Hand ball. Penalty.
4) No foul No penalty.
5) No foul. No red card. Anelka stubbed his toe or something.

[No Mercy]

The only penalty was when Barcelona defender hands the ball that Anelka try to put around him. It was clear that he stretch out his hand to prevent the ball from reaching Anelka in the box.

[Mosiah]

True! That other alleged hand ball in the dying seconds, that resulted in Ballack's ridiculous behaviour, was not a penalty at all! The ball struck Eto'o in his armpit!

[Warlord]

[quote=No Mercy;164591]The only penalty was when Barcelona defender hands the ball that Anelka try to put around him. It was clear that he stretch out his hand to prevent the ball from reaching Anelka in the box.[/quote]

The foul on Malouda in the penalty box by Alves isnt a penalty? That was very bad refereeing when the replay showed the infrigement took place inside the box. Its as clear as nite and day!

I think football should do what the NBA has done. Allow video replay's so that referee's can make the right call if they arent 100% sure what transpired due to an obstructed view.

[Lionpaw]

yow bossy whagwan. how u nah talk bout di stoke ting and di sunderland ting

[Mosiah]

The Malouda foul started outside the area. No referee is going to award him the penalty just because he managed to push himself and the defender into the area then flop.

[Warlord]

yow bossy whagwan. how u nah talk bout di stoke ting and di sunderland ting

I did. Check my comments in the recent Stoke/Fuller thread.

[Warlord]

The Malouda foul started outside the area. No referee is going to award him the penalty just because he managed to push himself and the defender into the area then flop.

Review the tape. Its clear he was in the box when he was fouled not outside of it. That Norwegian ref was just as bad as the refereeing in Game 5 of the Boston/Chicago series when Brad Miller gets assessed a flagrant 2 foul after getting elbowed in the mouth by Rajon Rondo. He lost a tooth and needed 6 stitches. Ridiculous!

[Karl]

So we are agreed the ref was a coward!

[Karl]

I'll just say this; In Jamaica, I have never seen even a novice ref perform in such a poor and cowardly fashion!

[Peter R]

Malouda and Alves was a dance and Malouda tripped over his skirt...

see minute 1:07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOsbmyy2Ynk#

[Peter R]

Should have called the handball on Pique....no doubt about that!

[Mosiah]

Cowardly?! Only the handball by Pique was clear. All the rest were very iffy.

Verdict: good job, ref!

[Warlord]

Malouda and Alves was a dance and Malouda tripped over his skirt...

see minute 1:07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOsbmyy2Ynk#

Saw it. No doubt that was a penalty. You cannot use your left hand like that to prevent a player from getting to the ball!