Olof Mellberg has criticised Chelsea's players for what he felt were repeated attempts to influence the referee.
Blues went too far with protests, according to Swedish defender
Olof Mellberg has criticised Chelsea's players for what he felt were repeated attempts to influence the referee during Juventus' UEFA Champions League elimination on Tuesday night.
A 2-2 draw at Stadio Olimpico proved enough for Chelsea to progress to the quarter-finals following their 1-0 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
Referee Antonio Rubinus Perez was at the forefront of much of the controversy on what was a frenetic evening of football in Turin.
Having controversially ruled Didier Drogba's free-kick had not been taken over the line by Gianluigi Buffon - a decision that infuriated Chelsea - Perez then went on to award Juventus a penalty after earlier sending off Giorgio Chiellini.
Former Aston Villa defender Mellberg feels Chelsea's players crossed the line in their protestations towards Perez.
Ugly antics
"They attacked the referee and the linesmen with five or six players," he told
Viasat. "It looked really ugly.
"They continuously tried to affect the referee with half a dozen players, so we tried to break them up."
Mellberg also felt Chiellini was unfortunate to see red after his defensive partner was booked for a second time for going through the back of Drogba.
"I don't think it's a yellow," he added. "It felt like a tough booking.
"He went into the contact honestly."
