Chelsea Players and Fans Should Be Ashamed!

Once again football has been embarrassed by the behavior of players and fans from an English club. 

Chelsea players reacted in a disgraceful fashion following their draw to Barcelona which saw them exit the Champions League.

Players reacted with anger on the pitch over several decisions by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, rounding the official both during and after the game. 

Ovrebo had to flee the tunnel onto the pitch after the game to escape the irate Chelsea players. Drogba, despite being substituted off the pitch received a yellow card after the final whistle due to his behavior and was restrained by club stewards.

Although he was not prevented from speaking to TV cameras saying: "It's a disgrace. It's a f***ing disgrace."

Following the final whistle Internet forums were set up by fans with Obrebo's home address reportedly being posted and death threats sent to the Norwegian.

Norwegian police are currently investigating these reports.

A police operation was set up to enable Ovrebo to leave the UK secretly without attack from Chelsea fans, cancelling his hotel reservation and moving him covertly to the airport. 

This situation surely cannot be allowed to continue within English football. Since Manchester Utd played Middlesborough in 2000 there has not been such an embarrassing moment for supporters of English football.  

I watched the scenes with disgust at the Chelsea players reaction to the final whistle at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea quite simply on the night failed to make the most of the opportunities to score that they had. Ultimately that is what cost them a place in the final of the Champions League. 

Refereeing decisions always have a bearing on the outcome of games, but a referee should never be hounded in the way that the Chelsea players did. 

I only hope that their behaviour is noted in the match report and that UEFA decide to take action against the club and the players involved. The referee's performance needs to also be reviewed by UEFA. 

The Chelsea game was viewed by millions of people across the world, many of whom were children. Those children are going to replicate the behavior of the professionals when they play in grass roots matches. That is a situation that needs to be stopped, and this will only be done by hefty punishments being doled out to the club and players. 

Drogba has since produced a statement to the media apologizing for his behavior after he reviewed footage of the end of the game.

English League football is amongst the best in the world, and we need to maintain that reputation and not have it tarnished by the players from the best clubs.

Football is an entertainment form that relies on it's fans to continue to pour money into the clubs. This will only continue long term whilst the fan base is renewed.

If parents turn there children away from football to avoid these scenes then the beautiful game will struggle. 

I only hope that this behavior is dealt with swiftly and severely to allow football to learn and grow from this incident.