Revelation by former Epl referee makes Chelsea fans furious and livid

Tom Hemming Ovrebo officiating Chelsea vs Barcelona match in Uefa Champions League in 2009. Former Chelsea Midfielder confronts the referee during the game. [PHOTO: COURTESY]

A recent revelation by former English Premier League referee Mark Clattenberg on how he made decisions on the controversial match pitting current champions Chelsea against the London rivals Tottenham in 2016 has angered a section of Chelsea fans, British media has confirmed.

Mr Clattenberg lifted the lid and narrated how kept Tottenham players on the pitch despite the offences that would have warranted dismissal of three Spurs players. Belgian midfielder Moussa Dembele, English midfielder Eric Dier and Danny Rose committed fouls that would have attracted red cards, but Clattenberg confessed that he kept them in the game to avoid being blamed for their woes.

Nine Tottenham players were booked during the London derby match, where Chelsea and Tottenham settled for a point each after 2-2 draw. The outcome gave Leicester City breathing room as they cruised to the title without any worrisome fierce competition.

Clattenberg who is the current head of referees in Saudi Arabia was quoted by BBC saying that he did not want to be ‘pin-pointed as the trigger of downfall’ of Tottenham’s title hopes.

This has elicited angry reaction from Chelsea fans who now feel that controversial referee decisionsa are choreographed to scuttle the title hopes of Chelsea.

The Chairman of Chelsea fans Trust David Chidgey penned down an article detailing the instances where the fans have considered hands of the man on the centre of the pitch ‘trying so hard to change results against them.’

Chidgey alludes this to the latest chants adopted by the Blues fans. He writes: “For referees it is an occupational hazard. They are more than used to hearing chants that tell them "you don’t know what you’re doing" - and much worse at every ground in the country most weekends.”