Stamford Bridge witnessed an unprecedented scene during the preparation of Chelsea players for their match against Newcastle on Saturday, when they surrounded referee Paul Tierney while gathering before the start of the match, in a moment that surprised fans and social media users.

The referee appeared stunned as the players bent around him, with Cole Palmer exchanging private words with Tierney after the gathering dispersed, while player Enzo Fernandez couldn't contain his laughter as his teammates arranged around the referee.

This moment lasted about half a minute, leaving viewers puzzled, especially since Chelsea had been accustomed to gathering around the central circle in recent weeks, but surrounding the referee in this way is an unprecedented step.

Palmer drew more attention as he embraced Tierney from behind without any prior invitation, giving the scene a comedic tone amidst the astonishment of the onlookers, who shared sarcastic comments on social media about the strange incident.

Referee Liam Rosenior and Chelsea players are expected to be asked after the match to clarify what happened, amidst speculation about whether this moment was just a joke or an attempt to influence the match's referee, but without an official explanation, the reason cannot be confirmed.