‘Out of order’ – PGMOL expert: Referees to ‘issue report’ over Chelsea pre-game ritual
Chelsea are likely to hear from the authorities over their newly introduced pre-game ritual under Liam Rosenior.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Blues are at risk of punishment if they continue to delay kick-offs, especially in the Premier League.
Noticed against Aston Villa on Wednesday, 4 March, the starting players formed a huddle around the ball on the centre circle before both halves kicked off, doing the same against Wrexham in the FA Cup.
Chelsea are now in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and with many games remaining in the campaign, there does not appear to be an end in sight for the team’s new pre-match ritual.
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VISIT THE CHELSEA MATCH HUBChelsea run the risk of being punished over new ‘trend’
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “It’s almost like, ‘Let’s have a trend just to do something different’. If it’s before the game and doesn’t delay kick-off, fine.
“But there’s a huge commercial element. In England and the Premier League, we have advertising and build-up, and it’s all being timed. The timing of everything is so important.
“This needs Premier League input. If it’s delaying kick-off, it has an impact on the event, so it’s one for the authorities to whisper in Chelsea’s ear, ‘You’re out of order here’.
“If kick-off is delayed, the referee will issue a report as an extraordinary incident, and they may well be doing that. This is about gamesmanship.“
What has Liam Rosenior said about the huddles?
Rosenior has refused to take responsibility for the huddles, with the “idea coming from the players”.
It has certainly had an impact, infuriating the Aston Villa players, who wanted to kick off, before putting four goals past them in front of a packed-out Villa Park crowd.
The Blues are now fifth in the Premier League table, with Chelsea next facing PSG in the Champions League, and the mentality shift could make a huge difference in the remaining fixtures.
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