Chelsea awoke on Thursday to the stark realisation that they are out of the Champions League, with several of their players facing sanctions from UEFA for their behaviour after their semi-final second-leg against Barcelona on Wednesday night.
The London side were beaten on the away goals rule after Andres Iniesta’s injury-time strike clinched a 1-1 draw on the night.
But Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack could find themselves in trouble after they harangued Norwegian referee Tom Henning, who turned down four penalty claims against them.
Chelsea officials, including manager Guus Hiddink had to restrain Drogba as he pointed the finger at Henning, but the Ivory Coast striker then vented his anger to a television camera, swearing in the process and labelling events ”a disgrace”.
English newspapers on Thursday carried damning pictures of Drogba, who had already been substituted and Ballack pressurising the referee, who was standing in his 11th Champions League game.
Hiddink defended the actions of Drogba, Ballack and other Chelsea players.
”I can fully understand in the emotion of the game, as long as they don’t touch him, I can fully understand this disappointment,” the Dutchman said.
”I can fully understand and I protect my players for this when they have this emotion, just with loads of energy and adrenaline in their bodies.”
Chelsea captain John Terry, who missed the chance to win last year’s final when he slipped in the penalty shoot-out, questioned the wisdom of giving Henning the referee’s role.
”Why did we get a referee who has officiated in 10 games in the Champions League in his career? To be given the Champions League semifinal, that’s not good enough,” he said.
”Over two legs Barcelona played well but the fact is that, in this game, we had six or seven penalty claims waved away and that is astonishing. Anywhere else, anywhere else in the world that would not happen.”
Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa went further, saying the referee, who earlier had sent off Barcelona’s Eric Abidal in another controversial decision, had been compromised.
”This referee was bought,” the Portuguese told Radio e Televisao de Portugal. ”I do not know if he is a referee or a thief. There are no words to describe the person that was on the pitch here.
”The way he refereed the match was not the most correct one. He should never referee again.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sympathised with Chelsea’s frustrations.
”I can understand that Chelsea can be disappointed about the performance of the referee,” the Spaniard said.
”We tried to create but we didn’t create much and it was hard against a Chelsea team that we expected to press up more. But we keep going, we are consistent. We had to play for 25 minutes with 10 men and still Chelsea stayed back.
Barcelona now meet holders Manchester United in the final in Rome on May 27, and Guardiola said his players were already looking forward to it.
”Manchester United are the champions, an unbelievable team and they have a coach with experience but we are Barcelona,” he said. — Sapa-dpa