Ref rage: Michael Ballack screams at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after not being awarded a penalty
The referee criticised for his handling of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final, second leg with Barcelona three years ago has revealed he still receives abusive emails from Blues supporters.
Norwegian Tom Henning Ovrebo, 45, turned down four penalty appeals by the home side at Stamford Bridge in May 2009.
Ban: Didier Drogba received a ban for his reaction to Ovrebo
They were decisions which provoked a furious action from the likes of Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa after Andres Iniesta's late equaliser took Barca into the final on away goals.
Ovrebo was subjected to death threats from irate Chelsea fans and today told The Guardian that he still receives occasional abuse.
'It has lasted and I get about three to four emails [from Chelsea fans] a year,' Ovrebo said.
Trying the calm approach: Frank Lampard argues with referee Ovrebo during the Barcelona game
'It is not nice but nothing too serious, either. I don't let it upset me or my family. They do not know much about it as I do not show them the emails.'
Speaking about his performance during the controversial game three years ago, Ovrebo added: 'Looking back there are certainly things I would have done differently. I learnt a lot from that experience.
'But all referees will tell you that they have good and bad matches, moments they do well and moments they do not so well, that is all part of the job. I cannot keep regrets about this one match. My life has to move on from this.'
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