Chelsea players deliberately disregarded explicit instructions from match officials ahead of their Premier League encounter with Newcastle United last Saturday, it has emerged.
Despite receiving clear guidance at the pre-match briefing not to form their now-infamous centre-circle huddle if the opposition were taking kick-off, the Blues proceeded regardless.
The revelation represents a remarkable turn of events, given manager Liam Rosenior’s subsequent criticism of referee Paul Tierney.
Club representatives had been expressly informed that players should instead gather in their own half under such circumstances.
Chelsea were told that Paul Tierney would stand on the centre spot to halt pre-match huddles
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The images of Tierney surrounded by Chelsea players subsequently circulated globally, sparking widespread criticism from pundits and former officials alike.
It has been repored that Chelsea staff received these warnings during the customary pre-match gathering involving officials, representatives from both clubs and Premier League personnel.
Crucially, the club was informed that Tierney would position himself on the centre spot in the moments preceding kick-off and would maintain his ground.
This directive stemmed from an incident during the previous week’s fixture against Aston Villa, when frustrated players including Ollie Watkins and Andre Onana complained to referee Jarrod Gillett about Chelsea’s identical huddle formation at the start of the second half.
The PGMOL subsequently instructed Tierney to prevent any similar confrontation occurring.
Paul Tierney found himself surrounded by Chelsea’s sudden team huddle | REUTERS
Rosenior’s post-match comments now appear in a rather different light following these revelations.
The Chelsea manager had expressed displeasure at the attention surrounding the incident, stating: “It’s disappointing. Too much attention is being paid to unimportant things.”
He defended the ritual as a collective decision, explaining: “Players gathered around the ball to form a huddle to show respect for the ball and to demonstrate team unity and leadership.”
Rosenior also took aim at the officiating, suggesting: “If Tierney had focused more on his role, that is, making the correct decision, today we would have gotten a penalty kick.”
The manager had initially indicated Chelsea planned to raise the matter formally with the PGMOL.
Given that Chelsea were in fact the party who breached established protocols, Rosenior’s complaints have attracted considerable scepticism.
Chelsea boss Liam Roseniot has quietly shelved the controversial pre-match ritual altogether
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PAThe manager has since quietly shelved the controversial pre-match ritual altogether.
When Chelsea took to the pitch for their Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, there was notably no repeat of the centre-circle gathering.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett had been particularly scathing about the original incident, writing on social media: “This incident is not funny.
“It undermines the authority and integrity of the match official.”
The huddle, it appears, has been consigned to history.
