Ref at centre of bizarre Chelsea vs Newcastle moment as Cole Palmer baffled | Football | Sport

There was an unusual moment before kick-off as Chelsea hosted Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday evening. Liam Rosenior’s team have taken up a new pre-match ritual of gathering their team huddle, in which they deliver a final message to gee themselves up before kick-off, over the centre circle. The players crowd around the ball even if their opponents are the ones getting the game underway.

They continued their new team talk trend against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. But there was a twist this time, as referee Paul Tierney guarded the ball and refused to move as the Chelsea players formed their huddle around him. That led to amusing images of the Chelsea players speaking to each other while Tierney stood in the middle of them, blocking the view of several.

At one moment as the huddle formed, Cole Palmer jokingly hugged the ref from behind while Enzo Fernandez smiled and laughed. But the Chelsea talisman was also pictured looking hilariously baffled, raising an eyebrow at Tierney as the match official refused to move out of the way. Palmer cut a confused look the official’s way as the camera panned around the huddle, with the footage also sparking laughter in the commentary box.

Sky Sports’ laughing lead commentator Rob Hawthorne said: “Paul Tierney has been caught in this new pre-match ritual that Chelsea have of going around and huddling around the ball at the centre spot. They’ve been doing that for a few weeks now. People have noticed recently and Paul Tierney is caught in the middle there. It’s quite unusual.”

Ex-Chelsea striker and co-commentator Chris Sutton added: “What is going on there? I’ve never seen the referee involved!”

Chelsea manager Rosenior recently denied suggestions it is an order from him or his staff for the Chelsea players to crowd around the centre circle. He said: “No, it wasn’t [my idea]. The idea came from the players, and I really like it because they’re showing unity and togetherness and spirit, and I think you need that.

“Before anything – before you start talking about tactics or systems – you need a group of players willing to run and fight for each other. And in my time, I have to say there hasn’t been one game where they haven’t given everything or where I was disappointed with their application, and that bodes well.

“They’re a good group, they’re a tight group, they enjoy each other’s company, and that’s half the battle.”

Newcastle took the lead against the run of play at Chelsea through Anthony Gordon in the 18th minute, following good work from Joe Willock to break beyond the hosts’ backline in west London.