UEFA Impose Gagging Order On Lambasted Referee Ovrebo

Football's governing body for Europe, UEFA, have instructed Tom Henning Ovrebo - the referee whose decisions caused such an uproar in Wednesday evening's 1-1 aggregate score between Barcelona and Chelsea - to stay silent if pressed for answers by the public and the press.

Ovrebo waved play on following a number of contentious penalty claims. Gerard Pique was alleged to have hand-balled in the area, while Malouda, too, felt he had been felled in the box.

The consistent decisions not to award Chelsea spot-kicks resulted in an angered Michael Ballack placing hands on Ovrebo as the game drew to a close.

Didier Drogba then appeared to bellow at the camera that such calls were a "disgrace" and is reported to have continued to insult the referee down the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.

As such, UEFA believe it is best for the officials to be discreet.

Ovrebo is reported to have told Aftenposten, "Because of the circumstances after the match, UEFA has asked us not to comment to the press."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

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