CHELSEA 1, BARCELONA 1
(Barcelona win on away goals)
Didier Drogba and Guus Hiddink fury as Blues are denied
CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba was furious after the Champions League semi-final defeat against Barcelona tonight and labelled referee Tom Henning Ovrebo a " f****** disgrace".
The Ivory Coast striker needed restraining by stewards and his manager Guus Hiddink at the end of the game.
Drogba felt he should have had a penalty and his side also had two appeals turned down for handball, with the Spanish giants then grabbing a stoppage-time strike to go through on away goals.
Drogba, who was unhappy after being subbed in 72nd minute, approached the referee after the game.
He then turned to the television camera, shouting that the official was a "f****** disgrace".
Chelsea fans also threw flags at the officials and the Barcelona bench.
Hiddink described the defeat by Barcelona as an "injustice" but would not be drawn on claims referee Ovrebo deliberately denied his side a place in the final.
Hiddink's men had four strong penalty shouts turned down, twice for handball and also for challenges on Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda, with Barca grabbing a last-gasp leveller to go through on away goals.
It sets up a final between Barca and Manchester United, rather than a repeat of last year's showpiece when Sir Alex Ferguson's side won on penalties after a stalemate.
It could be viewed as the final UEFA wanted, although Hiddink said: "Conspiracy is a very tough word and, if there is, you have to prove it.
"Obviously there is a lot written and said prior to this game. I can only mention what I see. I cannot say whether UEFA wouldn't like another English final."
He added: "They (referees) are human as well and everyone can be influenced by certain singing around, that could be possible. These are all half accusations. It's difficult to have a right opinion about that."
Chelsea took the lead in the semi-final in the ninth minute of the second leg, with Michael Essien smashing a volley in off the underside of the crossbar.
Malouda was then fouled by Dani Alves, who was later booked and will miss the final, and Ovrebo deemed it just outside the area.
Drogba thought he was felled by Eric Abidal inside the box, while Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto'o appeared to handle but nothing was given.
"In big games like this you need top-notch referees who have had big experience," Hiddink added. "The overall feeling was of injustice and I can understand fully the emotion of players.
"If you see three or four, that is the worst I have seen."
Ovrebo did send off Abidal in the second half but Chelsea were still fuming, with Drogba leading the protests.
"Of course I can fully understand his reaction, he was full of emotion," Hiddink said. "The moment he starts hitting, he is going somewhere he shouldn't go. I will protect him."
Barca coach Pep Guardiola now has his sights on United after Andres Iniesta's leveller sent them to Rome.
"Manchester are the champions, an unbelievable team and a coach with experience," he said. "We are going to prepare well. I expect us to have the ball, them to stay back and to counter-attack.
"I'm sure it will be a nice final because we will attack, we know that. I know they are a huge team but we are Barcelona."
This article has 24 comments
this very bad the refree was bribed im sure he was bribed the way he gave decisions to the chelsea side were all un real.but we are looking forward for the next match.
By MUHAMMAD WAQAS IQBAL. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:02 PM.
I couldn't believe that such cheating happens in the most famous game in the world. It seems that the success of a football team depends on referees crucial decision. The referee should be given a red card too as well as asked to apologize in public. If this won't happen football will loose fans. I'd rather watch boxing, basketball or other sports with fair judging.
By larry bird. Posted May 9 2009 at 10:24 PM.
baecelona will win the cup
By richard. Posted May 8 2009 at 12:03 PM.
I'm not sure if "conspiracy" did exist but it certainly seems that way as UEFA would lost millions of money if Chelsea go through. Why? because viewership percentage would definitely drop. But Chelsea has got itself to blame. Why are they letting Barca play their passing games when they should be attacking rather than defending? The Gunners are also famous for its passing game too but did Man U let them dictate? No!
By Azzy Singapore. Posted May 8 2009 at 11:41 AM.
of course, the spectators and chelsea players blame to referee kicked chelsea out of Rome final game .But it seem to be this defeat also came from the mistakes of Hiddink and his boy . All chelsea players just knew defence when they had balls in front they were abashed and could not create good chance to score .when Abidal was sent off Hiddink persisted still kept his boy in defence and gave barca the ground so Barca became more confident to come up . with this defeat Chelsea should blame themselves first .
By tan nguyen van Vietnam. Posted May 8 2009 at 5:43 AM.
of course, the spectators and chelsea players blame to referee kicked chelsea out of Rome final game .But it seem to be this defeat also came from the mistakes of Hiddink and his boy . All chelsea players just knew defence when they had balls in front they were abashed and could not create good chance to score .when Abidal was sent off Hiddink persisted still kept his boy in defence and gave barca the ground so Barca became more confident to come up . with this defeat Chelsea should blame themselves first .
By tan nguyen van Vietnam. Posted May 8 2009 at 5:19 AM.
we saw it, the spectators saw it, the players saw it, and the officials who are paid to see it, did not. once ok, twice ok too, the third time ok too! and the fouth time? and i am sure that there would been a fifth time too but there was no time for a fifth mistake. did platini see it too?
By billy mock. Posted May 7 2009 at 9:18 PM.
we saw it, the spectators saw it, the players saw it, and the officials who are paid to see it, did not. once ok, twice ok too, the third time ok too! and the fouth time? and i am sure that there would been a fifth time too but there was no time for a fifth mistake.
By billy mock. Posted May 7 2009 at 9:12 PM.
I think it's injuctice to the truly deserved team i.e. CHELSEA, They are the champs. They deserved to go thru to the next round . I think UEFA have to rethink about the ref's decisions & reversed these decisions & chelsea must be in the final, even barca players knows that. I think if uefa can't reversed this , platini have to be resigned .simply pathetic UEFA if they can't reversed their decision.
Chelsea played like champs & are champs & lampard,drogba, ballack deserved champ league medals
By pardeep arora. Posted May 7 2009 at 6:12 PM.
Chelsea bad loser. Drogba is a actor of theatre. Hiddink, do you remember South Korea - Italy or South Korea - Spain?
VISCA BARÇA Y VISCA CATALUNYA!
By Visca Barça. Posted May 7 2009 at 8:03 PM.
Yes, Chelsea was robbed, but you noly see that when it happens to you. Chelsea opponents have been robbed plenty of times and nobody cares. The same happenned with the biggest clubs in Europe. So, now I also don´t care. See ya...
By Afonso. Posted May 7 2009 at 4:38 PM.
to JC, Barca only scored once....
By Gunni. Posted May 7 2009 at 3:11 PM.
after such a bios ref I think all clubs should boycott playing In the champions league Its a farce
By Bob Brown. Posted May 7 2009 at 3:10 PM.
Is Michel Platini happy about yesterday's farse?
The ref Tom Ovrebo should be disqualified for LIFE!!!! Shame Shame Shame! I am not a Chelsea Fan but what I saw yesterday was a DISGRACE for Football!
By George. Posted May 7 2009 at 3:17 PM.
Chelsea are pathetic! Newer have i seen such a disgracefull behaviour from a over-payed thug like Didier Drogba showed last night! Try to score some goals instead why dont you? you cant! Pathetic!
I watcehd this game with my son and the scenes were dispicable! I expect Drogba to be punished so that he wont forget!
I feel he showed his true self after the game! He didnt get his penalties? Buuuhu! Hes a disgrace in the way her falls over like someone shot him if you breath on him! What goes around comes around! He is a small human-being! Acting like a wild animal! Get civilized!
Chelsea will always be a small football club!
By RK. Posted May 7 2009 at 3:14 PM.
To avoid ref's ineptitude just do like Barça: try to score more than just once!!! You'll enjoy football a lot more....
JC from Ibiza
By JC. Posted May 7 2009 at 12:31 PM.
To 'Martin':The ref is Norwegian. And was really bad. As was the Italian one in ManU's game. However the Danish ref. in the quarters was good. So stop bleating about their nationality. Look at your own FIFA ref's. Anyone you'd call outstanding in that lot? No, didn't think so either.
to 'tony malone': The final stadium and monetary arrangements has been set for two years. So it doesn't matter one iota to UEFA, who plays whom in the final. It could have been FC Copenhagen vs. Prague and UEFA would make the exact same amount of money they do now.
Sorry to burst someones bubble, but there really is no conspiracy.
By jean-claude briand. Posted May 7 2009 at 12:21 PM.
Chelsea are a disgrace by doing things like swearing a attacking the ref and officials didier drogba and micheal ballack should be suspended from football until next season for the dispcable attitude of them both
By jo muzz. Posted May 7 2009 at 11:37 AM.
LOL! Was beautiful hearing Stamford Bridge go so silent, oh wait that's normal isn't it?
By Fields of Anfield Road. Posted May 7 2009 at 11:36 AM.
Chelsea sucks!!!! Lol:)
By Martin. Posted May 7 2009 at 10:44 AM.
why do danish officials take charge of such big games? shouldnt it be someone from a much bigger league? like italy or germany or something?
i think barcelona deserved throughout the 180 minutes to get through but at the same time chelsea were robbed lol.
By harsh. Posted May 7 2009 at 8:34 AM.
What do you want. Chelsea's system 4-5-1...change Drogba by Belleti...then, you want to win...What kind of football are you talking about....claim your trainer...I SAW PANIC from Hiddink.....don't ya see?...
By Caesar999. Posted May 7 2009 at 8:27 AM.
i was gutted that it wasnt utd
By tony malone. Posted May 7 2009 at 8:12 AM.
Chelsea were robbed by the the cheating UEFA officials who do not want an all-english final again. They they that we do not have enough english players in our top clubs but ask Platini how many local players are there in Barcelona and Real Madrid first teams?
By rousdee. Posted May 7 2009 at 7:56 AM.