Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle, with Anthony Gordon scoring a first-half tap-in. This was Chelsea's first league defeat at Stamford Bridge under Liam Rosenior. The match was marked by controversy before kick-off when referee Paul Tierney stood in the centre circle and interrupted Chelsea's huddle.
According to sources, Tierney refused to move out of the way of Chelsea's huddle, leading to farcical scenes. Cole Palmer jokingly wrapped his arms around Tierney during the huddle incident. Former assistant referee Darren Cann said he had never seen anything as strange in 50 years of watching football.
Cann explained that Tierney was controlling the ball on the halfway line to prevent potential issues since it was Newcastle's kick-off. The specific rules or guidelines Tierney cited for standing in the centre circle during Chelsea's huddle remain unclear. Rosenior called out referee Paul Tierney for not focusing on his job after the pre-match incident.
'I'm disappointed. There's more focus and emphasis on the things that don't matter. I'm going to make it really clear.
I want to protect my players. I'm respectful to the game,' said Rosenior. He added, 'We're not being disrespectful to the opposition.
I'm disappointed. There's more focus and emphasis on the things that don't matter. I'm going to make it really clear. I want to protect my players. I'm respectful to the game.
If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we have a penalty today. I don't think anybody in this room can say that Woltemade doesn't kick Cole Palmer down in the box. So, let's focus on the things that are important.
' Rosenior felt Tierney missed a clear penalty for Chelsea when Cole Palmer went down after a challenge from Nick Woltemade. The exact nature of the challenge by Nick Woltemade on Cole Palmer that led to the penalty claim has not been detailed. Rosenior said Chelsea's huddle is not disrespectful to the opposition.
'My players made the decision that they wanted to be around the ball, to respect the ball and show unity and leadership. That is not my decision. That was a decision between the leadership group and the team.
There is nothing that they're doing with that huddle that is disrespectful to the opposition,' he stated. Chelsea's huddle was a decision made by the leadership group and team, not Rosenior. Rosenior praised the huddle as a way to show unity and build team spirit.
'I really like it. Before anything - before you start talking about tactics or systems - you need a group of players willing to run and fight for each other. They're a good group, they're a tight group, they enjoy each other's company and that's half the battle,' he said.
My players made the decision that they wanted to be around the ball, to respect the ball and show unity and leadership. That is not my decision. That was a decision between the leadership group and the team. There is nothing that they're doing with that huddle that is disrespectful to the opposition.
Chelsea's huddles frustrated Aston Villa players and fans during a recent 4-1 win at Villa Park. Reece James reportedly came up with the idea for the huddle to speak to players before halves. 'I like to speak to the players right before the first half starts and right before the second half starts.
That is the best way I think I can get messages across to them,' said James. Chelsea previously had a team-building practice of leaving the pitch together as a group after both halves. Rosenior plans to speak with the PGMOL to discuss the incident.
'I didn't speak to Paul today or his officials. I thought it wasn't the right thing to do today. But I'll be speaking to PGMOL.
I'll be speaking to the refs and just trying to get an understanding of why that happened today,' he explained. He noted, 'We were told in the rule book it's about timing. You can be where you want on timing.
' Whether the PGMOL or any refereeing authority issued a statement or clarification on the incident is unknown.