Soccer:German referee Felix Brych will take charge of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge. The 36-year-old, who has a doctorate in law, also officiated in the Blues' incredible last-16 second-leg comeback against Napoli.

Brych — who is renowned as a disciplinarian — controversially sent off Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic in the Barclays Premier League champions’ group-stage fixture with Otelul Galati in Romania.

And he dismissed Peter Crouch for two bookable offences when Tottenham lost 4-0 to Real Madrid in last season’s quarter-final first leg. Chelsea’s previous clashes with Barcelona since 2005 have been dogged by refereeing controversy.