Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has criticised referee Paul Tierney after Saturday’s controversial defeat to Newcastle United. The Blues lost 1-0, but Rosenior believes a key moment was mishandled.
Tempers rose after Tierney appeared inside Chelsea’s pre-match huddle before kick-off. The unusual scene left several players confused and amused.
Cole Palmer even wrapped his arms around the official jokingly. Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah and Enzo Fernández watched the moment unfold with laughter.
However, Rosenior’s frustration focused on a second-half incident involving Nick Woltemade. Chelsea appealed for a penalty after Palmer went down inside the box.
“If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we’d have a penalty today,” Rosenior said.
“I don’t think anyone can say that Woltemade doesn’t kick Palmer down in the box.”
“I’ll be speaking to PGMOL and the refs to get an understanding of why that happened today,” he added.
“We were told that in the rulebook you can be where you want and it’s about timing.”
Chelsea fury builds over referee moment and missed penalty decision
“I’m disappointed. I’m going to make it clear. I want to protect my players and I’m respectful to the game,” Rosenior further stated.
“Before the game we had a meeting with the referee.”
Former assistant referee Darren Cann admitted the moment looked unusual. He said he had never witnessed anything similar in decades around football.
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Still, Cann offered a possible explanation regarding the kickoff procedure: “As it was Newcastle’s kick-off, the referee [took] control of the ball on the halfway line.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe dismissed the debate surrounding the strange pre-match scene. “I was totally non-fussed by it. I don’t pay any attention to things like that.”
Rosenior also defended Chelsea’s growing huddle ritual before matches. He insists the routine promotes unity rather than distracting opponents.
“There is nothing about the huddle that is intentionally to affect anything to do with the opposition,” the former Strasbourg gaffer stated.
“It was a decision that was made between the group and the leadership team.”
Chelsea captain Reece James revealed the thinking behind the idea: “I like to speak to the players right before the first half starts and right before the second half starts.”
Tags: Paul Tierney, Liam Rosenior, Chelsea, #NUFC, #CFC, #KTBFFH, #COYB, #CHENEW, Newcastle, huddle.
