Referee’s involvement in Chelsea’s team huddle was inappropriate.

Under Liam Rosenior, it has become customary for Chelsea players to assemble in the center circle prior to kick-off.

However, during the club’s pre-match gathering against Newcastle United on Saturday, an unusual incident occurred when referee Paul Tierney positioned himself among the players while captain Reece James addressed the team.

Newcastle secured a victory at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 14 years, and afterward, Rosenior remarked that Tierney should have concentrated on his responsibilities instead of interrupting Chelsea’s pre-match huddle. He indicated that he would reach out to PGMOL, the referees’ organization, to clarify why the team’s ritual was interfered with.

But who was in the right?

Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee with over 12 seasons on the elite list, officiating in both the Premier League and Championship. With significant experience at the top level, he has worked within the VAR framework in the Premier League and provides valuable insight into the procedures, reasoning, and protocols that are implemented on a Premier League matchday.

The practice of huddling in the center of the pitch has been utilized by Liam Rosenior’s team before matches in recent weeks. However, this time, referee Tierney was positioned in the center circle and was inadvertently caught in the midst of Chelsea’s huddle while holding the match ball.

The more I observe Tierney standing among the Chelsea players during their huddle, the less I comprehend his choice to remain in that position with the match ball.

Referees prepare thoroughly, and Tierney would have been aware that the Chelsea huddle was scheduled to take place. With Newcastle set to kick off, his intention was likely to be proactive and mitigate any potential conflicts with the opposing team.

Nonetheless, his decision to remain over the ball while the Chelsea players linked arms around him, rather than moving to a more neutral location, is perplexing and unnecessarily heightened the visibility of the situation.

The Chelsea players appeared unfazed by Tierney’s presence as they proceeded with their pre-match ritual. In fact, it would not be surprising if they had been informed by Tierney during the pre-match meeting that he would assume this position if Newcastle opted to start the match.

Regardless, the optics were not favorable for PGMOL, the Premier League, or Tierney.

This was an absurd situation that could and should have been handled differently.