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Hiddink 'can't prove' Uefa conspiracy theory

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Published Date: 07 May 2009
CHELSEA manager Guus Hiddink said it would be impossible to prove claims Uefa did not want an all-English Champions League final.
The London side were furious about a number of what they saw as clear penalties which were not given by referee Tom Ovrebo as Barcelona progressed on away goals thanks to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge achieved with an injury-time leveller by Andre
s Iniesta.

According to Sky Sports, some of the Chelsea players were speculating afterwards that Uefa wanted to avoid a repeat of last year's all-Premier League final.

Asked about it on Sky Sports 2, Hiddink said: "You can never prove this but it's just sad and it's out of emotion but if you see five, six situations, not just one..."

Chelsea dominated the semi-final second leg and seemed to destined to seal a date with Manchester United for the second year running after Michael Essien's wonder strike, particularly when Eric Abidal was dismissed for a challenge on Nicolas Anelka.

But the referee denied Chelsea a number of spot-kicks for perceived offences including a shirt pull on Didier Drogba and handballs by Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto'o.

Hiddink said: "We are so disappointed because there are two issues. One is that we could have and should have scored in some open situations and because we talk a lot about the not given penalties.

"Didier's shirt-pulling is okay, we had (Thierry] Henry's situation in Barcelona, okay. But there were three other situations that were so clear. I shall not say what we really feel but it's injustice.

"It's not just that you can be mistaken. It's difficult, for instance, for the red card of Abidal on Anelka – difficult because, I think, Anelka was through, he touched with his left leg Anelka.

"You can discuss these situations for a referee.

"But if you have seen clearly and he was five yards

away], if you have seen clearly the ball on Pique... If he was blocked there is also an assistant referee.

"There's one I think with the shot on Eto'o and he's turning around and you have to have your arms down. Those two situations make you think."





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  • Last Updated: 06 May 2009 11:35 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Champions' League
 
1

Backofthenet,

07/05/2009 00:57:58
It's unsurprising Chelsea are upset as several dubious decisions went against them - but conspiracy theories are daft.
2

Hobo Harry,

07/05/2009 01:30:47
They didn't lose because of the referee, they lost because in two games against a badly under performing Barcelona they managed to score only one goal. Against 10 men in the second leg too. Easier to blame the ref though, always is....
3

Shantaram,

07/05/2009 01:59:10
So if the referee was under instructions from UEFA to avoid an all-English final, why did he send off a Barcelona player in very dubious circumstances with Chelsea already 1-0 up?

Drogba should have finished the match anyway when he failed to beat the keeper with an easy chance in the second half.

I thought the referee was poor, but let's not forget the penaly Barca were denied in the first-leg, another incident that blows the conspiracy theory out of the water.
4

usdarts,

Ohio 07/05/2009 02:21:14
... and if Chelsea had scored more than one goal, they would have won.
If you don't score enough goals, you don't win.
5

SOFBTRC,

Far, far from Glasgow 07/05/2009 04:23:42
If Chelsea had scored more than one goal, maybe the ref would have "done a McCurry" and just chalked it off?
6

Kiwiarab,

Christchurch, New Zealand 07/05/2009 10:31:57
Guus Hiddink as next Celtic manager? Seems to have the requisite chip on the shoulder to qualify him as being "Celtic minded" (whatever that ridiculous phrase means) enough for the job.

There are bad referees and there are the morally corrupt ones (Just ask Mrs McCurry). They guy last night was just plain bad, not biased. If there was a hidden agenda, why did he reduce Barca to 10 men?
7

ramso,

Edinburgh 07/05/2009 11:07:38
If Drogba would stay on his feet. If Ballack stopped going around kicking people and if both of them stopped getting into referees faces well you never knOW.
Chelsea don't deserve to go through for playing so defensive. How much did Celsea supporters pay to watch 11 men defending against 10 men at home. Referee was unfair to both tems not just one. Has the sending off been forgotten, that was worse than doubtfull penalty claims.
8

SOFBTRC,

Far, far from Glasgow 07/05/2009 18:23:46
#7

Kent isn't far enough away for you.

What do you do in your spare time? Trash Gillingham town centre, as people of your ilk like to do on their travels beyond the border?

 

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