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Richard Sutcliffe: Sense of injustice can't excuse shameful actions
WHETHER it be the assassination of JFK, the death of Princess Diana or even man's first steps on the moon, it appears every major event in history is unable to pass without whispers of conspiracy theories circulating almost immediately.
No matter how strong the evidence is to the contrary, some deluded fool somewhere will put forward an alternative version of how a hitherto unknown force was, in fact, behind events or that an elaborate cover-up has taken place.
Which brings us neatly on to events at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night and the conspiracy junkies who have filled the airwaves over the past 36 hours with claims that Chelsea's failure to reach the Champions League final was down entirely to skulduggery on the part of UEFA/Michel Platini/the referees union still angry at the treatment of Anders Frisk (delete as applicable).
For those who have been living on the moon for the past few days – and, no, don't e-mail in if you really do believe Neil Armstrong's first tentative first steps were filmed in the Nevada desert and that no one has ever set foot on the lunar landscape – Chelsea were denied a place in the Champions League by a stoppage-time equaliser from Andres Iniesta.
The midfielder's late strike meant it was Barcelona and not the Blues who went through to the May 27 final in Rome where they will meet Manchester United.
Chelsea were, understandably, distraught to be knocked out in such dramatic circumstances but that is where all sympathy should end for a group of players and a club who brought shame on English football with their inexcusable actions.
Okay, referee Tom Henning Ovrebo did have a shockingly poor game with his failure to award any of the Blues' four penalty appeals during the second leg and the dismissal of the Catalans' defender Eric Abidal. Some of his decisions were more debatable than others, but sometimes in football you just don't get the big calls going in your favour. It is a fact of life.
There is no doubt Chelsea fans will still be hurting today. The pain will ease eventually but the sense of injustice will not, as asking any Leeds United supporter about Ray Tinkler's interpretation of the offside law in 1971 will vividly illustrate. Ditto the response of any Sheffield United devotee when asked about Graham Poll's part in their club's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal in 2003.
But as much as Chelsea were hurting, there is no justification at all for the actions of their employees in the immediate aftermath of the game.
Didier Drogba's foul-mouthed rant at a television camera and his over-the-top protests to Ovrebo after marching back on to the field have attracted the majority of headlines.
But the Ivory Coast striker was, by no means, alone in disgracing himself on Wednesday night with Michael Ballack's pursuit of the referee and finger-jabbing after having a late appeal for a penalty turned down being, if anything, worse.
The actions of the German should have brought an instant red card and if UEFA have any gumption then he will not be allowed to play in next season's Champions League – regardless of whether he is still at Chelsea or not. The same goes for Drogba whose post-match rant at the officials was the very embodiment of why referee numbers are falling in Europe.
It was a terrible indictment on the Premier League and the way in which the top stars are fawned over and indulged in equal measure.
Only severe punishment of both the players involved and their club will ensure good comes out of Wednesday's shocking events. No matter what the conspiracy theorists may suggest to the contrary.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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