Crystal Palace vs Chelsea second half delayed resulting from uncommon problem with referee
The second half of Crystal Palace vs Chelsea was delayed as referee Michael Oliver suffered technical points.
Both groups emerged for the restart at Selhurst Park however had been then pressured to attend for numerous minutes whereas Oliver’s communications had been mounted.
Palace’s PR made mild of the state of affairs by taking part in Bob Marley’s legendary hit ‘Three Little Birds’ over the Tannoy, with followers signing alongside to the “don’t worry about a thing” lyrics.
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Not everybody noticed the humorous aspect of it although, with followers questioning why Oliver hadn’t resolved the difficulty throughout half-time.
Mirror chief soccer reporter John Cross labelled it “Sunday League stuff”, including: “The supposed best league in the world and the ref is not ready for the start of the second half. How embarrassing. Good that the Prem’s head of football, Tony Scholes, is here…”
The Evening Standard’s soccer correspondent Nizaar Kinsella was equally unimpressed, fuming: “Referee Michael Oliver has induced an enormous delay within the sport as he has his radio receiver tampered with.
![Match Referee Michael Oliver has his microphone fixed during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on February 12, 2024](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article32110859.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Crystal-Palace-v-Chelsea-FC-Premier-League.jpg)
(Image: Chelsea FC by way of Getty Images)
“It’s ridiculous that he could not resolve this through the 15 minute half-time stoppage. Chelsea gamers had come out early to get this half going once more.”
One Chelsea fan even went as far as to say: “If a Chelsea player gets injured this half I want the club to sue Michael Oliver.” However, some thanked him for delaying the sport after a woeful first half.
![Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell pass the ball between themselves](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article32110891.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Crystal-Palace-v-Chelsea-Premier-League-Selhurst-Park.jpg)
(Image: PA)
“Michael Oliver delaying our heartbreaks, God bless that man,” joked one after a gap 45 minutes which had seen the Blues have 80% possession however only one shot, with Jefferson Lerma scoring a screamer to place Palace forward.
But they had been quickly cheering as Conor Gallagher introduced them degree lower than two minutes after the restart as he turned house Malo Gusto’s low cross.
Gallagher then netted once more in stoppage time on the finish of the second half to down his former mortgage membership Palace, who had salt rubbed of their wounds when Enzo Fernandez added a 3rd earlier than full-time.