As we contemplate taking on Barcelona, this Tuesday evening, it`s impossible to forget an occasion when our Champions League aspirations died in the most controversial of circumstances.
Back in 2009, Chelsea travelled to the Nou Camp and returned with a very creditable 0-0 draw, leaving everything to play for in the second leg.
At a packed Stamford Bridge, Chelsea got off to the best possible start when, with nine minutes gone, Michael Essien struck a wonderful volley that crashed against the underside of the cross-bar and hit the net, cue pandemonium inside the ground.
What followed was a series of events that culminated in Chelsea losing the tie on away goals when, in stoppage time Andres Iniesta smashed in an equalizer, thereby preventing Chelsea playing Manchester United in a second successive Champions League Final.
But, by the time Iniesta equalized, Chelsea should have been out of sight, except one man, the referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo, had other ideas.
The referee, denied penalty three clear-cut penalties after incidents such as:
? Florent Malouda being fouled inside the penalty area only for a free kick to be given outside.
? Didier Drogba going down after his shirt had clearly been pulled as he closed in on goal.
? Gerard Pique clearly handling the ball as Nicolas Anelka went to flick the ball past the defender.
But the chaos continued, even after Barcelona`s late equalizer, Ovrebo denied Chelsea yet another penalty when Michael Ballack saw his shot hit the arm of Samuel Eto`o.
The sequence of events was unreal and a sense of injustice prevailed around the stadium.
UEFA did nothing to correct the situation except come down heavily on Chelsea for the ensuing protests after the final whistle.
Years later, reflecting on the night, Ovrebo remarked to the media,
‘It was not my best day, really. But those mistakes can be committed by a referee. Some days you’re not at the level you should be. I can’t be proud of that performance.”
Let`s hope we don`t witness a performance of such ineptitude this Tuesday evening!
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