Chelsea-Barca 2009 semi-final ref admits to mistakes but says 'you can’t remember my career just for that game'
The referee of Chelsea’s fateful Champions League semi-final meeting with Barcelona in 2009 has admitted he made a series of mistakes at Stamford Bridge, accepting that he “cannot be proud” of his infamous performance.
Tom Henning Ovrebo turned down four penalty appeals by Chelsea as Andres Iniesta struck a late equaliser that put Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona through to the Champions League final on away goals.
Ovrebo was sent death threats from furious Chelsea fans and was hounded by Chelsea players after the final whistle on the night, with Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa both receiving subsequent bans.
It remains one of the most controversial refereeing performances in recent years, and the Norwegian’s officiating has been revisited by Spanish media ahead of Chelsea’s round of 16 fixture with Barcelona on Tuesday night.
“It was not my best day, really,” Ovrebo, who at 51 years old no longer referees, told Spanish newspaper Marca. “But those mistakes can be committed by a referee, and sometimes a player or a coach. Some days you are not at the level you should be. But no, I can’t be proud of that performance."
Ovrebo had to change hotels after the game because of the "hostility", saying he and the other officials had to "be careful" in the following days.
“There were several errors and everyone will have their opinion of those plays. But, I insist, the players and the coaches also fail, and nothing happens. I am proud of having been in the European elite for a while, and among the best in my country at least. That’s why you can’t remember me or my career just for that game.
“It is clear that it was the return [leg] of the semis and everyone was aware of that shock. Only from that point of view is it understandable that many remember me for that day at Stamford Bridge.”
Among Chelsea’s penalty appeals were claims of handball against Barcelona’s Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto’o. The second of those, against Eto’o, took place deep into stoppage time and resulted in Michael Ballack, the Chelsea midfielder, chasing Ovrebo up the pitch.
“Yes, they were handball situations,” Ovrebo said. “I judged them on the pitch and I think it is not interesting to know what I think of those actions once judged, although I understand that people think differently to the decisions I made at the time. That discussion will continue eternally.”
Asked why Ballack was not dismissed for his aggressive reaction to that late decision, Ovrebo added: “After the game it is easy to say: ‘Why was this done and not the other?’ For me the important thing was to learn from my mistakes. I made that decision not to send him off and that’s it.
“And it’s difficult to explain why some decisions are made on the pitch and not others. It may be due to pressure, or in that event it could be because Ballack protested from behind and I didn’t see it. There can be many reasons in each decision.”
