Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has issued a strong statement in response to the bizarre incident involving referee Paul Tierney before Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United on Saturday.
Tierney, stood over the ball prior to kick-off, didn’t move away as Chelsea’s players gathered around him for their pre-match huddle inside the centre circle. The eyebrow-raising incident has been criticised by fans and pundits alike, with former Swansea City and Wales defender Ashley Williams saying on Match of the Day: “It just makes a farce of the whole thing.”
Ex-Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart added: “This just didn’t feel like something that should be happening in the Premier League.” Watch the incident below:
Liam Rosenior and referee Paul Tierney
Liam Rosenior and referee Paul Tierney
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior - speaking after his side’s 1-0 defeat - said Tierney should have focused on his job rather than positioning himself in the middle of the huddle. The English coach says he will speak to referees’ body Professional Game Match Official Limited (PMGOL) about Tierney, who failed to award Chelsea a penalty when Nick Woltemade fouled Cole Palmer in the second half.
"If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we'd have a penalty today," Rosenior was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "I don't think anyone can say that Woltemade doesn't kick Palmer down in the box.
"I'll be speaking to PGMOL and the refs to get an understanding of why that happened today. We were told that in the rulebook you can be where you want and it's about timing."
He added: "I'm disappointed. I'm going to make it clear. I want to protect my players and I'm respectful to the game. Before the game we had a meeting with the referee. My assistant goes in and the first thing [Tierney] talks about is our huddle. We're not being disrespectful to the opposition."
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Keith Hackett Casts Strong Verdict Over Huddle Incident
Paul Tierney in middle of Chelsea huddle
Paul Tierney in middle of Chelsea huddle
Keith Hackett, who previously led by the PGMOL and was a FIFA-listed referee, has issued a firm verdict about the incident, slamming the players for making Tierney “look a fool”. He wrote on X (Twitter):
“I thought this was AI at work. This incident is not funny. It undermines the authority and integrity of the match official. In his pocket is a yellow card and it should have been out and shown to the captain. Tierney made to look a fool.”
In Hackett’s view, Chelsea captain Reece James should have been shown a yellow card before the game had even kicked off. If he found himself in the same position as Tierney, Hackett said: “The card would have been out of my pocket like a flash and the captain would be on the receiving end.”
Anthony Gordon scored the only goal of the game in the 18th minute as Newcastle secured a narrow 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. The result means Liverpool will leapfrog Chelsea into fourth position if they defeat relegation-threatened Tottenham on Sunday.