Drogba's eyes zone on the ground, his best friend all night
Drogba spent a lot of times flopping and at the end going ballistic at Tom Hennings Ovrebo, the Norwegian referee. He faces UEFA disciplinary action for that classy move as well as a invective filled tirade facing a camera.
Then there was Michael Ballack who pursued Ovrebo in an apoplectic fit after the referee turned down his appeal for handball. Replays showed that the call was correct, his shot struck Eto'o on back of the shoulder.
Dominic Fifield and Amy Lawrence, of course, highlight all the calls that seemed to go against Chelsea.
The only clearly wrong call was Anelka's flick that Pique blocked with his hand.
Yes, football is a cruel sport and cuts both ways. Eric Abidal can attest to that. Ovrebo gave the Frenchman marching orders for allegedly tripping up Anelka on his way to goal. Replays showed that it was very doubtful whether he had anything to do with it. Barca was a goal down and reduced to ten men.
Yes, it is a conspiracy to keep English clubs out of the finals. Cry me a river. This is just a lot of projection at the golden opportunities that Chelsea missed to put the game away. The chief culprit was Drogba who muffed two clear chances. Then cried the hardest.
Its a reminder that money can buy titles but not grace.
On one website a Londoner posted Overebo's home address.
On Sky the English commentators were panning the Norwegian. But reading The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent, all of them were agreed on one thing: only the Pique handball was a clear penalty. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see English jingoism at its best. This referee will become like Anders Fisk who retired from football after another Chelsea debacle.
Ian
I absolutely agree on the video conferencing. But if you say that there should have been PKs for Chelsea, there should have been one for Messi brought down in the box by Bosingwa. Alex also deserved a red card for a very cynical foul on Iniesta.
It was a heartbreaking loss and emotions were very high. But if there was a finger to be pointed it should be at the team. Chelsea failed to put away its chances.
although i am not a ManU fan i would be cheering every 90 minutes every 5400 seconds for ManU in final. i would really love to see Barca lose to them. i would love to see barca players face after losing final at home. remember GOD gives justice to everybody. GOD will do the justice to CHELSEA. MANU.... beat barca.
although i am not a ManU fan i would be cheering every 90 minutes every 5400 seconds for ManU in final. i would really love to see Barca lose to them. i would love to see barca players face after losing final at home. remember GOD gives justice to everybody. GOD will do the justice to CHELSEA. MANU.... beat barca.
How can you say there was only one clear penalty chance. How the hell the ref decided that the free kick given for a foul on Malouda was outside the box?
And then Drogbas shirt was clearly pulled. Then the Pique handball.
Chelsea should have finished the game off...but the ref was a complete disgrace.
When oh when will Football catch up with the rest of the world and bring in video refereeing?