Infamous referee admits his mistakes cost Chelsea in 2009

After the final whistle blew, the hostile Stamford Bridge crowd directed their fury towards the Norwegian match official as Didier Drogba infamously labelled the game as a ‘f***ing disgrace’ live on television.

That night has went down as one of the most controversial matches in Champions League history after Tom Henning Ovrebo waved away four penalty claims for Chelsea during their semi-final second leg with Barcelona in 2009.

Ovrebo admits that his mistakes ultimately cost Chelsea that night in west London after the Catalan giants went through on away goals.

The tie went down in Champions League history after several controversial decisions

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba infamously labelled the game as a ‘f***ing disgrace’ live on television

Spanish newspaper Marca interviewed the infamous referee after he admitted that he ‘had to change hotels’ following the game

The retired official told Spanish newspaper Marca: ‘It was not my best day, really. But those mistakes can be committed by a referee… and sometimes a player or a coach. Some days you’re not at the level you should be. I can’t be proud of that performance.

‘They were handball situations. I judged them on the pitch and I think it is not interesting to know what I think of those actions once judged, although I understand that people think differently to the decisions I made at the time. That discussion will continue eternally.

‘I was responsible for the decisions that were made and we can argue that, if I had taken others, maybe Chelsea would have qualified for the final. 

‘We will never know. I made decisions and they were not the best. But it is difficult to say if, without that arbitration, Barcelona would have been eliminated or not.’

Chelsea had four penalty shouts waved away as Barcelona went through to the final

Michael Ballack infamously chased the Norwegian down the field after Samuel Eto’o raised his arms to block the German’s shot in the box and no penalty was given.

Ovrebo recalls receiving death threats from Chelsea fans following the game and says he even had to change hotels that same night after being concerned for his own safety.

‘After the match I did not talk to any footballer. I left the field with dignity and went to dressing room. I remember that we had to change hotels as there were many hostile people against us. We had to take care of ourselves that day and the next.’

Following a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp, Andres Iniesta’s fantastic late equaliser sent Jose Mourinho’s side crashing out of the competition before Pep Guardiola went on to lift the trophy in the final.

The infamous referee reveals he received death threats from Chelsea fans after the match