Champions League - Chelsea: Norway, 'nul points'

Eurosport - Mon, 11 May 17:04:00 2009

Chelsea fans have hatched a plot to get their own back on bungling referee Tom Henning Ovrebo - by stopping Norway winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Tom Henning Ovrebo - 0

The Norwegian official enraged Blues fans with his performance in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last week.

The referee turned down four penalty appeals as Chelsea crashed out at the hands of Barcelona.

But with Chelsea's hopes of reaching the final for a second consecutive year in tatters, fans are hoping to find consolation by preventing Ovrebo's home country from taking glory in this year's Eurovision.

An internet campaign, the brainchild of a group of Chelsea fans, has been launched to drum up enough support across Europe to ensure Norway are deprived of victory.

Norway's entrant this year, 22-year-old Alexander Rybak, is favourite to win the competition with his song Fairytale.

But one Blues fan said in the Daily Star: "They robbed Chelsea of the chance to play in the Champions League final.

"So let's rob them of the Eurovision trophy."

Both players and fans alike were angered by Ovrebo's handling of Wednesday's game.

Didier Drogba in particular was incensed by the decision not to award Chelsea at least one penalty, and the Ivorian striker had to be held back when remonstrating at the final whistle before swearing at the television cameras.

Ovrebo had to be smuggled out of Stamford Bridge - and then the country - at the end of the night over fears for his safety. He has since been forced into hiding after receiving several death threats.

Norway were famously awarded "nul points" at the Eurovision in 1978 when Jahn Teigen's rendition of Mil Etter Mil (Mile After Mile) failed to impress judges across the continent.

Ovrebo's homeland holds the record for the most "nul points" awarded - on an impressive four occasions - but the UK has also suffered the same humiliating fate - when Jemini flopped with Cry Baby in the 2003 edition.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 72 - 91 of 91

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  1. Who cares about Eurovision Song Contest, Chelsea FC,­ The Daily Star or Mickey Mouse?

    Justice has prevailed,­ divers and moaners will stay at home drinking beer and­ watching telly whereas this season most espectacular­ and attacking teams in Europe are playing the UCL 2009­ Final.

    From melecoco1, on Sun 17 May 1:14AM

  2. great is manchester united, nothing else matters as­ QUEEN said we are the CHAMPIONS and that is that.

    From randir_ns, on Thu 14 May 12:46AM

  3. am not chelsea fans but after that mach i say to people­ around me that football has no rules,

    From michael o, on Wed 13 May 7:29PM

  4. not a chelsea fan but must admit they were robbed u­ shuld see the replays

    From okeyeleadeoye, on Wed 13 May 4:01PM

  5. UEFA OUT! VIDEO REPLAYS IN! Not even the most­ incompetent referees' can screw that up,
    I­ think...?

    From Phil B, on Wed 13 May 12:54PM

  6. ozoneutb... seriously, my friend...you can't really­ be that stupid...

    From stpreid, on Wed 13 May 4:29AM

  7. Its the referee that should be ppunished by being­ banned...........................................not­ the poor young singer. Whats he done wrong. Get a­ petition going to ban the referee fron future high­ level games.

    From kipketer1411, on Tue 12 May 11:04PM

  8. Im from norway and, every child here, is a Chelsea fan,­ arsenal fan, man u fan, liverpool fan, there is ONLY­ those teams.

    From chechenr, on Tue 12 May 7:06PM

  9. it was masterminded by UEFA for two English premier­ league team not to meet in the finale. The red card­ given to Barca player was not a red card offense but­ was used by the referee to deceive the audience as part­ of master plan to enable him sucessfully execute the­ game plan as being directed from the above. Platini­ should resign, because their action was obvious and­ disgraceful.

    From ozoneutb, on Tue 12 May 6:25PM

  10. .... As a chelsea fan, this is completely stupid­ honestly, ya we got messed in the semis but honestly­ this is ignorance... Ever thought of chelsea fans in­ norway maybe.. why assault a country wit probably­ chelsea fans due to the behaviour of a tarded referee,­ comin from a chels fan in norway

    From r_babiker, on Tue 12 May 5:55PM

  11. Stupidest thing I've ever heard, Chelsea fans­ actually think this would be a great source of­ revenge!!! Fact being that if Drogba had not missed 2­ glorious chances, dived around like a ballerina and­ feigned an injury at a point when his team needed him­ most then Chelsea would be in the Final now!!! It is­ too easy for Chelsea to blame the referee, when they­ should look at some of their own players performances­ on that night, plus sitting back defending a 1-0­ against 10 men is a master strategy!!!!!!!

    From mckeecathal, on Tue 12 May 5:04PM

  12. never heard anything so pethetic in my life,but having­ said that,what do you expect from a bunch of retarded­ chelski fans GET OVER IT

    From jon g, on Tue 12 May 9:07AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    never heard anything so pethetic in my life,but having­ said that,what do you expect from a bunch of retarded­ chelski fans GET OVER IT

    From jon g, on Tue 12 May 9:06AM

  14. krzysztofolszewsk: what about the hand ball by Pique­ did you it or did you have blinkers on too.

    From starman_123, on Tue 12 May 8:35AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Wake up, Chelsea fans, your team was second best from­ all standpoints. Relax, and maybe you'll realize­ how ridiculous it looks to blame the ref after he­ gifted your team a 1 man advantage, when your team was­ 1 goal up and was playing in front of its own crowd.­ The man did his best to let your team win the game, but­ couldn't have foreseen the 'let's get a­ penalty' approach (nobody could) that has been used­ instead of the more traditional hard work and running­ necessary to keep the score unchanged.

    From mfr, on Tue 12 May 7:55AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Chelsea wasn't robbed. they just paid dearly for­ their dumb defensive approach. Barca are better players­ and team. Chelsae wait another year. and please NO NAME­ CALLING OR FOUL LANGUAGE ON TV

    From mike onyibe, on Tue 12 May 5:52AM

  17. I had a dumb dream yesterday. In my dream, I saw­ referee Ovrebo went to a karaoke bar in Norway and sang­ this Bee Gee's song "It's a­ Holiday".

    Here are the lyrics:

    "Ooh I was­ on a holiday,
    Hey Hey Such a holiday !!!
    Millions of­ eyes can see
    And yet why am I so blind
    And when the­ someone else is Chelsea
    It's unkind, it's­ unkind."

    Rgds from your sweet dumb blonde.

    From dumbblondespeaks, on Tue 12 May 2:54AM

  18. Tom Henning Ovrebo will be punished for his cheating,­ and his bribe taking, as will UEFA one day.

    Chelsea­ will have to wait just that little bit longer, anyway­ who wants to win a competition that is rigged?­ Liverpool fans might, but I would rather we win it when­ UEFA has cleaned up it's act and stopped the­ bribing and cheating that occurs in football­ now.

    Chelsea will win it without cheating or resorting­ to bribing referees!

    From james.kane2007, on Tue 12 May 2:33AM

  19. Tom Henning Ovrebo will be punished for his cheating,­ and his bribe taking, as will UEFA one day.

    Chelsea­ will have to wait just that little bit longer, anyway­ who wants to win a competition that is rigged?­ Liverpool fans might, but I would rather we win it when­ UEFA has cleaned up it's act and stopped the­ bribing and cheating that occurs in football­ now.

    Chelsea will win it without cheating or resorting­ to bribing referees!

    From james.kane2007, on Tue 12 May 2:32AM

  20. Tom Henning Ovrebo will be punished for his cheating,­ and his bribe taking, as will UEFA one day.

    Chelsea­ will have to wait just that little bit longer, anyway­ who wants to win a competition that is rigged?­ Liverpool fans might, but I would rather we win it when­ UEFA has cleaned up it's act and stopped the­ bribing and cheating that occurs in football­ now.

    Chelsea will win it with cheating or resorting to­ bribing referees!

    From james.kane2007, on Tue 12 May 2:31AM
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