Chelsea should have gotten a penalty against Barcelona in 2009, according to referee Tom Henning Ovrebo: On this day in 2009, referee Tom Henning Ovrebo admitted that Chelsea deserved a penalty in their very contentious Champions League semi-final loss to Barcelona.
After his performance in the match, Ovrebo became a hate figure for all Chelsea fans, denying them the penalty that would have put them in the final on several occasions.
Chelsea grabbed the lead thanks to Michael Essien’s spectacular goal, but in the days of away goals, Barcelona just needed an equalizer to reach the final.
As time ticked away, Andres Iniesta’s magic feet provided the equalizer, infuriating Blues fans at Stamford Bridge.
The displeasure was so great that the judgments are still being discussed 13 years later, and now Ovrebo has weighed in.
“I’m sure the finish of the game would have been a lot simpler for us as a refereeing crew if that [Iniesta] goal hadn’t been scored,” he told Sportsmail.
“Chelsea supporters would have gone to the pub and said, ‘maybe we should have got one or two or three or four or five or six penalties… but it doesn’t matter tonight because we’re through to the final.’
“Of course, as a referee, you’re well aware that a goal like that generates more debate, more responses, and more disputes around the judgments you’ve already made in the game.”
Florent Malouda was hacked down by Dani Alves close to the penalty box, and Didier Drogba was fouled by Eric Abidal, but Ovrebo waved aside penalty appeals.
With the Bridge crowd clamoring for his blood, Ovrebo turned down handball calls against Gerard Pique and then Samuel Eto’o following Iniesta’s score.
The Norwegian official now confesses that the environment had begun to wear him down.
“It may creep into your brain,” he said, “but it’s critical for a referee and a referee team to have laser-like focus.”
“It’s not always easy, but for us, it’s about the next circumstance, and you can’t dwell too much on the previous one.”
“It was critical that we maintain our attention and remain focused and attentive.”
“Of course, the stress in the game and in the spectators is always present, but that’s part of the game, and the mood is usually pleasant in matchups like this.”
Chelsea players swarmed the referee after the game, asking to know why the whistle hadn’t gone for a penalty.
He now concedes that they may have had a point.
“I don’t believe Chelsea fans are accurate when they claim four of five penalties, but I believe everyone who knows football and the regulations of the game knows there should have been a penalty,” he stated.
“This happens frequently, especially prior to VAR. You can miss a penalty, a red card, or a key decision on occasion. And I believe that everybody who knows football understands that a penalty should have been awarded.
“They can decide which ones should have resulted in a punishment.” I won’t offer you a proper response since I don’t know what the correct answer is; all I have is my opinion.
“In a game like that, when there are so many penalty appeals, as a referee, you worry about being duped by the team,” he said.
“So that may have had a detrimental impact on my view.”
“Perhaps that’s it. I have no idea; I’m only speculating with you.
“That may be one argument, that you don’t want to appear as though you’re under pressure to award a penalty.”
“Perhaps you then have a more objective view of the situation.”
“I’m sure some of the calls would have been different if I had VAR in that match.”
“However, I can’t dwell on my performance as long as I did my best.” I can learn from it, which is perhaps the most important thing, but I can’t walk about regretting some of my decisions.
“I made other errors in my 40 years as a referee, and I can’t say I regret them all.”
