Liam Rosenior, the manager of Chelsea, has urged referee Paul Tierney to concentrate on his responsibilities after an unusual incident during the team’s pre-match huddle last Saturday. Rosenior plans to reach out to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for clarification regarding Tierney’s actions.
Before the Premier League match against Newcastle, the Chelsea players gathered at the center circle for their customary huddle. However, this time Tierney stood in the middle of the circle, holding the match ball, which created an unexpected and somewhat humorous situation as the players tried to communicate around him.
Despite the light-hearted nature of the moment, Chelsea ultimately faced a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, thanks to an early strike from Anthony Gordon. Rosenior expressed his frustration with Tierney’s interference, emphasizing that the huddle is a positive team-building ritual meant to foster unity and leadership among the players.
“I’m always respectful to the game. My players chose to gather around the ball to show respect and solidarity,” Rosenior explained. “This was a decision made collectively by our leadership group. There’s nothing disrespectful about it.” He further criticized Tierney, suggesting that if the referee had been more attentive, Chelsea would have been awarded a penalty for a foul committed against Cole Palmer in the box.
“I didn’t engage with Paul today because I felt it wasn’t appropriate,” Rosenior added. “But I will be reaching out to PGMOL to gain a better understanding of what transpired.”
Former Premier League referee and ESPN analyst Andy Davies also weighed in, stating that Tierney’s decision to remain in the center circle was puzzling and not in the best interest of the match or the league. “Given that the pre-match huddle has become a regular practice for Chelsea, it’s unclear why Tierney chose not to reposition himself to allow for this moment,” Davies remarked.
While the Chelsea players appeared unfazed by Tierney’s presence, the incident raised questions about the PGMOL’s management and the impact of such situations on the league’s image.
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Information from PA contributed to this report.