Ovrebro: Bridge blunder in the past

Tom Henning Ovrebro, the Norwegian referee who was blamed for Chelsea’s Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona in the 2009 semi-final, would be happy to take charge of their European semi-final clash in a fortnight so he can “correct the bad impression from the past’’.

The referee is no longer on UEFA’S list of international officials and has not officiated a game in the Norwegian top-flight this season as he is still recovering from an illness.

“Everyone can relax in the knowledge that there is no chance of that happening, so I will be watching it on television,’’ he joked. “But I would like to referee this one, to correct the bad impression from the past. Though I would hardly be applauded at Stamford Bridge.’’