Chelsea FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Carlo Ancelotti

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Ref smuggled out of country

07 May 2009 - 12:11:24

Click To Enlarge

Former referee Graham Poll has revealed that Tom Henning Ovrebo has had to be smuggled out of the country after the Norwegian's controversial handling of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Barcelona.

The 42-year-old is also understood to have received a number of death threats after failing to award Chelsea a penalty during the Blues' defeat on away goals.

Ovrebo turned down four penalty appeals as Barcelona won through to a Final against Manchester United later this month thanks to Andres Iniesta's stoppage-time goal.

After the game, Didier Drogba Michael Ballack, John Terry and Frank Lampard all confronted the official with the Ivory Coast international being particularly vocal in his protests.

Poll said: "This morning he's being smuggled out of our country under police escort. This is a referee of a football match, it's a disgrace.

"They had to change the hotel he was staying at because of the fear that maybe fans would find him."

An Oslo police spokesman added: "We are watching closely what is being posted on the internet. Anything we believe would threaten his personal safety will be taken seriously."