Chelsea’s huddle round ‘boastful’ Paul Tierney was a horrible search for the referee – and Newcastle’s gamers had each proper to be offended, writes Mark Clattenburg

The image of Paul Tierney stood in the middle of the Chelsea huddle, looking straight down the television camera lens, was not only utterly bizarre but also a terrible look for the referee.

Tierney had multiple opportunities to push past the Chelsea players but he just let it happen. From his body language, he looked like he was enjoying it.

The referee’s normal position before kick-off is outside the centre circle. Liam Rosenior even said Tierney had brought up their huddle in their meeting before the game. He knew they were going to do it. So, why he was so adamant he had to stand there is beyond me.

If I’d been a Newcastle player, I’d have been upset and angry at seeing him inside the Chelsea huddle.

Paul Tierney had multiple opportunities to push past the Chelsea players – but he just let it happen

Referees in this country might be incompetent but they aren’t corrupt, yet allowing this to happen can lead to unwanted accusations. Cole Palmer leans in and almost hugs Tierney while it happens, so you have to be aware of the perception it creates.

I don’t think Chelsea should have had a penalty for that challenge on Palmer from Nick Woltemade.

In fact, I think Palmer should have been booked for diving and Rosenior’s complaints about it afterwards were a classic case of a manager deflecting from the whole embarrassing huddle episode, before a game they failed to win, by putting it all on the referee. Had Tierney given it, though, he opens himself up to awkward questions.

Tierney could have avoided all of this by just stepping out of the way or, as soon as he saw the Chelsea players start to surround him, push them out of the way. He was too arrogant to do either.