GUUS HIDDINK has pleaded with Chelsea fans not to crucify blundering Norwegian ref Tom Henning Ovrebo.
The Blues boss was outraged by Ovrebo’s display in the Champions League semi-final disaster against Barcelona in which he turned down four penalty claims.
Ovrebo has since gone into hiding but Hiddink believes what is done is done and wants the ref to be allowed to get on with his life.
The Dutchman said: “We reject anything that can damage the man, direct threats. No one will tolerate that, either personally or as a club.
“There’s zero tolerance towards those things. There is emotion after the game but, after that, it’s finished.
“Hopefully he’ll be having his rest, wherever he is. We have to leave the man in peace. “
Hiddink is not even calling on the ref to explain his baffling decisions which resulted in accusations that he could not handle the big occasion and that he was even part of a UEFA conspiracy to stop two English clubs meeting again in the final.
Chelsea’s chief added: “What I have heard indirectly is that they have said they made some poor decisions that had an influence on the game.
"But I don’t think the man has to come out and explain. He can have his peace. That’s it and there is no need for him to say publicly. It’s sport. He made his decisions.
“Everyone has to respect that, even making mistakes, there is always a limit and the right for every person to move freely.
“I’m speaking rather idealistically but we have to accept that as a fact. Everyone can go wherever he likes to go.”
Swedish referee Anders Frisk was forced into retirement after a bust-up with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in a Champions League game, also against Barcelona.
But Hiddink does not want the same to happen to Ovrebo.
He said: “I would regret it if he did that. It’s not worth anyone leaving his hobby or profession, or both. So give him the time to recover and respect the individual. If he likes to do his job he should continue.
“He has admitted some poor decisions with consequences. We don’t need to over-react.
“Referees are neutral in a game. I don’t think they have a pre-set mind. Making errors, even ones which had major consequences for Chelsea, was not his intention, I suppose.”
Hiddink insisted it was not Chelsea’s responsibility that the ref had been threatened since the match.
He said: “To be honest, I have worked in some countries where, after games and defeats, I’ve had to go away from a game in a car putting my foot on the gas to be speedy away from the stadium.
“I don’t think we are fully responsible for what has happened afterwards.”
The acrimonious semi-final has not soured the Dutchman’s enjoyment of his time at Stamford Bridge and he wants to round off his temporary reign — and return to his full-time job as Russia boss — by securing third place in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup final against Everton.
Hiddink said: “I love working with this club. I’m not defending it, the way the boys reacted, but there is a very strong desire and personality in this team.
“They like to fight for their chances and I’ve worked with them with a lot of joy.
“They are not players who, having a good life, just sit down with their luxury. They like to perform at a big club. That’s still very enjoyable.
“It’s true it will be tough to leave behind. In the end, though, we part. That’s how it is. Let’s not be too dramatic — that’s life.
“When I arrived the aim was to qualify for the Champions League.
"Then, when things are going well, you can’t just be satisfied with that at a big club, so we extended our targets. In February, people would have raised their eyebrows if we said we’d get to a final. But I want to leave having won something.”
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