Referee finds himself in middle of Chelsea's pre-match huddle in Premier League

There was an unexpected person in Chelsea's pre-match huddle on Saturday: The referee.

Under recently hired manager Liam Rosenior, Chelsea's players have made a habit of gathering in a circle around the ball on the halfway line in the moments before the first and second halves begin in a display of unity.

Before the Premier League match against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, referee Paul Tierney took hold of the ball next to the center circle — only to soon find himself surrounded by the Chelsea team.

Cole Palmer was even seen placing his arms around the shoulders of Tierney, who looked slightly bemused as a team talk took place with him in the middle of it.

Rosenior said he was “disappointed” that Tierney got involved in the huddle.

“If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we have a penalty today,” Rosenior said.

“So,” he added, “let’s focus on the things that are important. My team showing unity is not as important as getting the decisions right on the pitch.”

Rosenior felt his players did nothing wrong.

“I want to protect my players. I’m respectful to the game. My players made a decision that they wanted to be around the ball to respect the ball and show unity and leadership,” he said. “That is not my decision. That was a decision between a leadership group and a team. There is nothing that they’re doing with that huddle that is disrespectful to the opposition.”

Asked for his thoughts on the incident, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he “didn't pay any attention” to it.

“It's got absolutely zero relevance to me — I was totally non-fussed by it ... it's not going to help us win or lose the game,” Howe said.

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Chelsea's Reece James rues a missed chance during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle, in London, Saturday March 14, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Jorrel Hato looks dejected as Newcastle United players celebrate victory following the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle, in London, Saturday March 14, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Joe Willock, left, and Chelsea's Romeo Lavia battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle, in London, Saturday March 14, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Joelinton, left, and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle, in London, Saturday March 14, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, and No. 3 Michigan beat Nick Boyd and No. 23 Wisconsin 68-65 on Saturday to advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship.

Aday Mara scored 16 points and Elliot Cadeau had 15 as top-seeded Michigan (31-2) avenged its only conference loss from the regular season, a 91-88 setback against Wisconsin on Jan. 10. Mara also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots.

Michigan is going for its second straight Big Ten Tournament title and fifth overall. It will play No. 18 Purdue on Sunday after the Boilermakers eliminated UCLA with a 73-66 win.

Lendeborg got off to another slow start after he had just six points in Friday’s quarterfinal victory over Ohio State. But the Big Ten player of the year began to assert himself right before halftime, and he connected on the biggest shot of the game.

Lendeborg grabbed an offensive rebound and passed to Cadeau for a 3 with 45 seconds left, giving Michigan a 65-62 lead. But Boyd responded with a tying 3 for Wisconsin.

With the United Center crowd standing in anticipation, Michigan tried to find Lendeborg inside on its last possession. But he ended up making his way back outside before getting a pass from Cadeau and drilling the winning 3.

Wisconsin’s Austin Rapp made six 3-pointers while scoring each of his 18 points in the second half. Boyd had 14 points on 6-for-20 shooting a day after he scored a career-high 38 points in a wild overtime victory over No. 9 Illinois.

The Badgers (24-10) had reached the Big Ten tourney final in each of the past two years, losing to the Wolverines in 2025.

Shaking off a sluggish start, Michigan closed the first half with a 10-2 run. Lendeborg made a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying it at 28. It was his first basket of the game.

The Wolverines were shooting 26.7% (8 for 30) from the field at the break, but the Badgers weren’t much better at 32.3% (10 for 31).

Michigan beat Purdue 91-80 on Feb. 17. Cadeau scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half of the road win.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr., right, battles for a loose ball with Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)