CL Semi Final
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WE SHOULD PROTEST!
By Ben Clynshaw
Dear UEFA & The British Press,
I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I smell a rat. A big Norwegian one. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any referee to manage such as blunder. Whether Sunday League or UEFA experienced it is impossible for any referee to ineptly miss every one of the four penalty claims during the Chelsea Vs. Barcelona match on Wednesday night.
Two of said incidents were one hundred percent, clear-cut, stonewall, cast iron penalties. The other two claims were fifty fifty on the night but most referees would have blown up, so for the ref not to give ONE penalty is a very very suspicious; some may say it's a complete scam! Why did UEFA appoint a man whom caused much controversy in the past for such a game?
Did UEFA influence him to make sure they got their 'dream final' avoiding another all English final? After all that would bad news for revenue around Europe, we don't want that do we. Never mind the teams that deserve to be in the final, it's all about revenue. There's already enough Chelsea Vs. Man Utd games in a season, at least two, possibly more, who wants another one? That's no good for sponsors and broadcasters around Europe.
Chelsea held off the "best attacking team in the world" for 183 minutes or so and fully deserved to go through for being the better team over both legs. However, in football that doesn't count for anything if a late goal is scored and fair enough, that's football. But this is not football, this is fraudulent, this is scandalous. Is something going on behind closed doors we don't know about? We have our suspicions, in the form of a certain Frenchman I can't name for legal reasons.
So who does Platini answer to? Oops. I mean who do UEFA answer to? They're at the top of the hierarchy so what chance does a club stand? What chance does Chelsea stand when the media as well as UEFA are out to get us? We deserved to go through and furthermore we deserved at least two penalties.
Whilst being chased by a frantic Michael Ballack, referee Tom Ovrebo waved his signalled his hands to indicate no penalty, yet afterwards claimed he did not see it. So why did he give the hand signal if he did not see anything? Flo Malouda was fouled once outside the box and then fouled for a SECOND time INSIDE the box.
Ovrebo only had to look down at the that green stuff he was standing on to see the white line on the outside of Malouda! Ovrebo had other intentions. A free kick was awarded just outside the box. Yes Malouda was fouled initially outside the box but Ovrebo kept his whistle at bay.
Malouda was then fouled for a second time INSIDE the box, which is when Ovrebo succumbed to taking his whistle out. A sure-fire penalty? Ovrebo had other intentions. Pique's handball was infallibly and unquestionably a clear-cut spot kick, no question about it! Where was this ref educated?? The same place as Mark Halsey I presume.
Ovrebo knew the situation, he knew consequences of an all English final, he knew Platini's ideals, he knew how it would affect European markets and revenues. Ovrebo is young, he has years ahead of him in refereeing, he doesn't want to jeopardise arbitrating Champions League games in the future, he wants to keep UEFA sweet, he wants to stay on that payroll. I'm not saying he was told, but I'm not saying he wasn't 'pressured' into avoiding an all English final either.
UEFA may argue that week in week out referees make questionable decisions, sometimes in favour of your team, sometimes against, and that's football. It's very true, but this is not just one bad decision, nor two, three or possibly even four. A number that is far too high to fathom at this level, and too high to turn a blind eye. It's not just unjust that and unfair to Chelsea whom are on the receiving end of this sham but it's a disgrace to football. If football politics are affecting the game such a way now, what will happen next? The creators of the game (the English) have been mutinied!
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Lets just say the theories are fallacies and I am talking complete tosh. Lets also say the referee and officials did not receive a quiet word in the ear before the game and were not pressured into aiding Barcelona's campaign to avoid another all English final, there would still be the one factual and evident actuality that Chelsea were exited from the Champions League due to a extraordinarily poor referee that made numerous calamitous and erroneous decisions.
In 2005 Uzbekistan beat Bahrain 1-0 in the qualifying rounds for the Germany 2006 World Cup. Japan referee Toshimitsu Yoshida ruled out an Uzbekistan penalty for encroachment before incorrectly awarding Bahrain an indirect free kick. After the match, Uzbekistan officials appealed to FIFA, asking that a European referee be appointed for the second leg. However, FIFA stunned Uzbekistan by declaring the match void and ordered a replay, with Swiss referee Massimo Busacca as the man in charge. Yoshida was suspended. The replay ended in a 1-1 draw.
Now that's a turn up for the books. Due to a refereeing error a football match was consequently voided and a replay was ordered by FIFA. Bear in mind this was for ONE refereeing mistake, just the ONE. Wednesday's game resulted in at least two catastrophically bad decisions plus a further two fifty fifty penalties that most referees would of probably awarded. Tom Ovrebo did not award one. We have all seen the incidents and everyone who has seen them have agreed two of the incidents were one hundred percent penalties. Even pundits who are usually anti-Chelsea have agreed. Even Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool fans I know have agreed!
Chelsea were the better team on BOTH legs against Barcelona. Some may say Barcelona were the better team in the first leg but define better? Because they attacked more? Because they had more possession? Tactically, Hiddink got it spot on, we stopped the best attacking team in the world on their own turf. Even Real Madrid couldn't do that at The Bernabeu! They were decimated by conceding SIX goals in at home! We went to Camp Nou where no team has gone all season and managed to keep a clean sheet, and Barcelona couldn't score one! To keep a clean sheet at Camp Nou is an achievement and a half, and we were the first team to do this all season.
To summarise:
> Tom Ovrebo gave one of the worst ever displays by a referee in football
> We had FOUR penalty opportunities, TWO of which were 100% cast iron penalties
> Ovrebo awarded no penalties thus ineptly and incompetently arbitrating the game
> In 2005 a replay was ordered by FIFA due to just ONE refereeing error
> We were the better team on both legs and fully deserved to go through to the final
> Platini & Co. were evidently against English dominance in Europe and all English final
> Ovrebo claimed he did not see the hand ball by Eto'o however he waved his hands to indicate
> Pique performed one of the most blatant handballs I have ever seen
> Malouda was fouled TWICE, one outside and one INSIDE which is the one he blew up for
> Iniesta not receiving a card for his goal celebration resulting in him missing the final; I wonder why?
> UEFA's prediction? Shear coincidence?
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I understand this letter may reach an Arsenal, Man Utd or Liverpool fan for example so you may read it, laugh uncontrollably, fall off your chair then stand up and press delete. However, I ask you to see past this and view this protest as a united stand for football; especially English football.
Chelsea deserve the opportunity to replay this game alike the Uzbekistan Vs. Bahrain game in 2005. FIFA obviously know what they're doing, I thought UEFA did too. Like I said above, even if we forget all about the possible conspiracy theories the fact still remains that the referee made two to four cataclysmically erroneous and suspicious decisions. There should be a serious inquest into this sham. Chelsea get enough stick from the media, not to mention UEFA and The FA take the mick. Luis Garcia's phantom goal in 2005 was hard to accept but what could you do? That's football, sometimes bad decisions go against you. But this is not just one bad decision. This is scandalous.
We need to make a stand and we need some backing. HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! (Or the back)
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Drogba Punished? The players that DIDN'T react should be punished!
Football is a game of emotions, a game of passion with an immense desire for glory; technically it's the most exciting game in the world, and the most popular sport in the world. To play football for a Premiership team is a dream, to play in the Champions League is the ultimate dream for any player. To get to the final would be the pinnacle of any player's career, it's the thing that all players dream of, the game that players train day in day out for, the kind of event that brings the whole world to a standstill, the biggest game in club football...
...so when you're 30 seconds away from playing in this game and your team is fraudulently ousted... wouldn't you be slightly miffed? The ultimate prize in European club football is scandalously taken out of your hands before your own eyes and you're expected to just walk off the pitch quietly? Do me a favour! That kind of emotion is what makes the game, if there was no passion then football would become obsolete. If we just sat back and listened to Platini and Co. then football (especially English football) would disappear as quick as Gordon Brown's cleaning budget.
For the ref not to give at least one penalty on Wednesday was a disgrace, Drogba is completely right, it was a disgrace. Drogba should be commended for having the heart, the balls and the passion to stand up for what is right and deserved. I would have done the same, Good on him, it's that fire that makes him one of the most dangerous players in the world. The world could do with more people like Drogba - not the rolling around on the floor part though. I don't want to walk to my local shop to get a newspaper to find people rolling around on the pavement as a result of Drogba Flu.
06/05/2009 - The biggest scandal in football history.
Yours suspiciously,
Ben Clynshaw
ARE WE BITTER?
By Kristian Downer
This site is about conflicting opinions and in this way I am going to write a differing opinion to those eloquently put forward by Ben. I am not saying that what i write below is my opinion just a different perspective.
Chelsea are not popular in Europe there is little respect of a team that the snobbish upper echelons of football in both England and Europe do not believe deserves to be rubbing shoulders with them.
The evolution from 1994 - 2003 in which Chelsea came from mid table mediocracy to Champions League contenders playing attractive but inconsistent football respected by all has been forgotten replaced by the Abramovich era of disdain.
Bought the premiership they say, a disgrace to football they say, too negative too arrogant, too English, not English enough the critics had made their decision and could not be placated.
This disdain has lasted for 5 years and does not look like stopping and it is against this backdrop that the events of Wednesday unfolded.
Football is not an exact science, the team that plays the best football has the most chances or the better players does not always get the result they want or others say they deserve.
Barcelona fans and the so called 'neutrals' argue that in the first leg this occurred and that Chelsea represent everything that is wrong in football. They ignore that having a plan and sticking to it is what football is about not playing to the oppositions strengths.
They ignore the Barcelona play acting the waving of imaginary cards and the poor attitude their entire team had throughout the game lambasting Chelsea's negative tactics but not commenting on how well they were executed.
In the second leg Chelsea also had a plan again sticking to it and for 90 minutes comfortably contained a Barcelona side whilst creating 3 or 4 great chances themselves.
Football however like life boils down to the small things, the rub of the green, a lucky bounce a poor decision a misplaced pass or a poor referee on Wednesday Chelsea were a victim to the small things in football.
Firstly and less controversially in the second minute of injury time the ball is dribbling clear from a Barcelona cross and Essien just can't stretch enough to divert the ball into touch and it falls to a Barcelona player and seconds later Iniesta is slamming the ball home from 25 yards.
In a parallel dimension Essien stretches just an inch further and Chelsea hold on for two minutes and no one is talking about the referee.
The second small thing beyond the players control is the referee I do not buy into conspiracy theories but no one can argue he had a good night and his make did not impact upon the game?
But what is done is done, as Chelsea fans we can jump and protest claim scream blue murder but nothing will change, UEFA will not change its mind.
Defending the actions of Michael Ballack is like defending the indefensible in the era of so called 'respect' that should not happen no matter what the stakes, ironically the actions of a player whose attitude i do not like at the best of times Drogba are more understandable.
He like the 41,000 fans in the ground and those watching on TV felt that Chelsea had been robbed, denied two cast iron penalties and two 50/50 penalties and he expressed that to anyone who would listen.
However we do not have a time machine yes we can complain but what will anything further achieve, UEFA will not change it's result and the already mud like reputation that Chelsea have will be further tarnished.
Actually scratch that last sentance Chelsea are hated anyway, so scream make your voice heard but remember UEFA does not like the success of English teams in particular the Russian owned team from SW6.
By J Mourinho
Chelsea vs Barcelona 1-1
In a match of very very poor referring Barca scored injury time equalizer to sink my brave blues.
Michael 'the bull' Essien produced a FANTASTIC opener!
It was a very very special goal!
Just like the one he hit for me against Arsenal!
Very nice!
Line up was fantastic! He same lineup told potato to put up- very good!
Same formation as in the 1st leg except with Boss at Rb now and Ash back in LB.
Barcelona having lot of possession! No problem!
Barca being very very cheeky! Playing Busqeuts and Keita to provide height!
Very nice Dr.pepper! But barca being very nervous and Xavi slips and it almost falls to Drogba but he miss controls! Pathetic!
Messi trying to be fantastic but is topped by JT! Very nice JT!
Dr. pepper likes the start but who knew what was next to come!
And why not!
Drogba controlled an aerial ball but of course!
Lamps deflected cross falls to the bull and he smashes it home…on a volley!
WHY NOT?!?!
We are 1-0 up! It was fantastic!
Very nice Chelsea! But game is not over Malouda attacks and what is this?!
Foul inside box but free kick outside! Pathetic!
Chelsea playing fantastically but still no more goals from breaks!
Barca have possession but no shot on target! Alves is crying and making the pastries as usual!
Very nice potato! Not going for 2nd to kill it! Why not?!
Because he his doing mimicking of special one! Gong for prosaic 1-0 halftime lead!
2nd half commences very good. Drogs with fantastic chance and he cuts inside; but what is this pathetic finishing. Even tiny Wright Philips would have finished it!
Drogba playing confidently against Toure, but still no goal for him. No problem!
Anelka on his way from drogba pass but what is this! Red card for Abidal even though hardly any contact!
Not BAD at all ref! Very good decision….!
Drogba off for belleti. Not bad game but should have scored! He would have scored if he was playing for me ; I told potato give him milk before bed-time!
HANDBALL REF! What are you doing? THIS IS PATHETIC! I, all the way from Italy could see that! This ref has been pimped by barca for sure!
Alex got yellow; he‘ll miss final but no problem! Potato has Ivanovic!
Messi now also making the pastries as well! Barca will surely lose now but what the……………….!@*!@!*!@)*#)#*)#!*(#!*(!
How the *beep* did that ball end up in net! This is PATHETIC!
C’mon Lamps provide beautiful corner for very very late winner!
Ballack shoots and HANDBALL REF! This is not a football match! Barca are playing volleyball the whole game! Pathetic! Now what is with the ranting drogba! SHUT UP!
By Mitterand Okorie
I grew up in a remote town off the Western coast of Africa where people are revered and applauded for hard work.
So I grew up loving football and appreciating hard work so when I read about a young genius called Mourinho I decided to follow up his courageous escapades that was how I became a Chelsea supporter.
A team molded in fighting spirit and hard work Mourinho left, but my love for Chelsea FC did not go away so each weekend, I devoted my time to watch my team play and time after time, we have to put our hands in fire.
Just to get those precious 3 points and time after time we are the ones to pay for the foolishness of biased referees when Lampard was sent off in Anfield.
What we got was an apology, meanwhile 3 points lost you would think that’s enough, but no! The worst was yet to come.
After 180 minutes of a solid defensive display once again by a team that loves hard work the referee looked us in the face and took us for fools
‘Overbo’ thought we didn’t deserve to be in Rome.
A man coated in stupidity blew us away from the tracks of Rome and yet again, the Champions League trophy eluded us blatant penalty appeals turned down and Iniesta blasting past Cech scenes of agony, as that little boy cried at the Bridge.
Our hopes was sacrificed once again on the altar of Biasness we only managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.