'Couldn't believe it': Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher speaks out about Chelsea's centre-spot huddle around referee Paul Tierney
Before kick-off ahead of Newcastle United's huge win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the Chelsea players went in for their usual centre-spot huddle, but referee Paul Tierney decided to put himself in the middle of things.
It was a bizarre moment that has divided opinion. Obviously, the Newcastle fans at the time were very suspicious of a referee being involved in the opposition side's huddle, especially given how decisions have been going against us lately.
Then there are Chelsea fans wondering what point Tierney was trying to make by putting himself in the middle of things, and Liam Rosenior saying he's going to speak to the PGMOL.
Meanwhile, the rest of the footballing world was just completely baffled by the whole thing, and it seems that former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher falls into that camp.
Dermot Gallagher finds Chelsea's centre-spot huddle all a bit bizarre
Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch segment, Dermot Gallagher said he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Couldn't believe it. Just couldn't.
"Honestly, I watched it on Saturday night and just like, I get it, they want to show they're together and whatever, and they want to bond before a game, but do they have to do it there? I just see no need for it."
Jay Bothroyd shows why he's no longer in the game
Ex-player Jay Bothroyd also gave his opinion for what it was worth, but given that he didn't know the difference between the centre spot and the penalty spot, or a couple of weeks and an entire season, his opinion isn't really worth as much.
"I'm kind of like, why has Paul got to stand there? Why has he got to stand there? Like, even when I was playing the referees are kind of in the vicinity of the penalty spot. But does he have to stand on the penalty spot?
"Yeah, but does he have to I mean, sorry the centre spot. Does he have to stand on the centre spot?"
