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General Sports News

Blues unaware of ref threats

Author: Rose Young
Date: 07/05/2009

Chelsea insist that they are unaware of any death threats made to referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the Norwegian's controversial handling of their Champions League semi-final second leg clash with betting favourites Barcelona.

Former referee Graham Poll has also revealed that Ovrebo had to be smuggled out of the country after failing to award Chelsea a penalty during the Blues' defeat on away goals.

Ovrebo turned down four penalty appeals as Barcelona won through to a Final against Manchester United later this month thanks to Andres Iniesta's stoppage-time goal.

After the game, Didier Drogba Michael Ballack, John Terry and Frank Lampard all confronted the official with the Ivory Coast international being particularly vocal in his protests.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have appealed against Darren Fletcher's red card in Tuesday's Champions League victory at Arsenal on compassionate grounds.

The Scotland international is set to miss the Champions League Final after being sent off at the Emirates Stadium as United cruised to a 3-1 victory on the night to secure a 4-1 aggregate success.

Referee Roberto Rosetti ruled that Fletcher had committed a professional foul even though he appeared to legitimally take the ball from Cesc Fabregras.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has moved quickly to express his sorrow after being pictured leaving a London nightclub just hours after his side's Champions League exit.

The Denmark international was seen in the early hours of Wednesday morning with his belt undone and jeans pulled down six hours after the Gunners had crashed out of the competition.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is expecting there to be a host of changes to his squad over the summer.

Rovers look certain to still be in the Premier League next term, but Allardyce already knows that Andre Ooijer and Tugay will not be at Ewood Park when the new season starts in just over three months' time.

Roque Santa Cruz is likely to be plying his trade elsewhere next season, while Matt Derbyshire, Aaron Mokoena, Carlos Villanueva and Danny Simpson are unlikely to be part of Allardyce's plans.

The revolving doors at Newcastle Falcons have continued after winger Ollie Phillips confirmed that he has agreed to join Stade Francais.

The 26-year-old leaves Kingston Park after making 20 Premiership starts for the club.

However, the Falcons have captured the Leeds Carnegie winger Tom Biggs on a one-year deal.

Tom Shanklin could miss the British and Irish Lions' summer tour of South Africa after dislocating his shoulder in the Cardiff Blues' Magners League win against the Dragons on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old centre picked up the injury in the closing stages of the match as the Blues moved up to fifth in the table.

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