Chelsea's huddle ritual had a surprise guest - the ref!
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 15.03.26. | 11:42
Cole Palmer laughs it off, but Liam Rosenior says Paul Tierney should have focused on the penalty decision in the Blues' loss to Newcastle
It was supposed to be a routine pre-match moment - a quick team huddle, a few last words, and then kick-off. Instead, Chelsea ended up with an unexpected extra participant: the referee.
Ahead of Saturday's clash with Newcastle United, official Paul Tierney decided to hold his ground on the halfway line while the Blues gathered around the ball for their usual pre-kick-off huddle.
The result? The referee suddenly found himself standing right in the middle of the circle, effectively becoming the most awkward team-talk guest in the Premier League this weekend.
Chelsea's pregame team huddle today had a special guest—the referee. 😂 pic.twitter.com/9fIcdCJEzx
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) March 14, 2026
The moment did not go unnoticed. Cole Palmer responded with humour, briefly wrapping his arms around Tierney before staring at him with a puzzled expression. Nearby, Trevoh Chalobah and Enzo Fernandez watched the scene unfold with visible amusement.
But after the final whistle - a 1-0 defeat for Chelsea - the joke wore thin for Blues head coach Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior said the referee might have been better off concentrating on his actual duties, particularly one moment in the second half when Chelsea believed they should have been awarded a penalty after Nick Woltemade brought down Palmer in the box.
"If Paul had focused more on his job - making the right decision - we'd probably have a penalty today," Rosenior said afterwards. "I don't think anyone can say Woltemade didn't kick Palmer down."
The Chelsea boss added that he plans to speak with the refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to understand why the unusual pre-match moment happened in the first place.
According to Rosenior, Tierney had already raised the topic of Chelsea's huddle during the referees' pre-match meeting, something the manager found puzzling.
"We're not trying to disrespect anyone," he said. "It's just our way of showing unity."
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann admitted he had never seen anything quite like it.
"In 50 years of watching football, I've never seen a referee standing in the middle of a team huddle," he told the BBC.
Chelsea's now-famous huddle, reportedly introduced by club captain Reece James, has become a small ritual for the squad. Players gather just before each half begins while James delivers a quick message to the group.
Rosenior insists it's about unity, not mind games.
"Before tactics or systems, you need a group willing to run and fight for each other," he said. "They're a tight group, and that's half the battle."
Even if, occasionally, the referee ends up accidentally joining the pep talk.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 30
Saturday
Burnley - Bournemouth 0-0
Sunderland - Brighton 0-1 (0-0)
/Minteh 58/
Arsenal - Everton 2-0 (0-0)
/Gyokeres 89, Dowman 90+7/
Chelsea - Newcastle 0-1 (0-1)
/Gordon 18/
West Ham - Manchester City 1-1 (1-1)
/Mavropanos 35 - Silva 31/
Sunday
17.00: (2.50) Crystal Palace (3.25) Leeds (2.90)
17.00: (1.80) Man.Utd. (4.00) Aston Villa (4.50)
17.00: (2.25) Nott.Forest (3.50) Fulham (3.40)
19.30: (1.33) Liverpool (5.50) Tottenham (8.50)
Monday
23.00: (1.60) Brentford (3.90) Wolverhampton (5.80)
***odds are subject to change***