Platini: Drogba will bounce back

Tue, 03 Nov 14:39:33 2009

UEFA president Michel Platini believes Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will return to European football "better and stronger" following his three-match ban.

Drogba is expected to return to line up against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night following his suspension for verbally abusing Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of their semi-final defeat at the hands of Barcelona last season.

Platini has watched Drogba's foul-mouthed antics on video since and said: "Drogba's a good guy. I know him very well. He understands now that he made a mistake. Everybody does. He will come back better, stronger."

He added: "What I saw on TV was the comportment of Didier. All the TV showed the insult of Drogba, not the decisions.

"I was like Drogba in the past when I saw an injustice as a player. But I don't know Drogba's mind.

"He took the decision that he felt was right for him. He was alone in thinking that."

Platini also stressed he is not involved in the process of refereeing appointments and claims he still does not know Ovrebo's identity.

"When I arrive at a stadium, I don't know the name of the referee," said Platini. "That's the decision of the independent committee of referees. I was not there at Chelsea. I didn't know the name of the referee and I still don't.

"I don't know whether the referee made a mistake or not. If it was a mistake, I will say 'it's not a mistake' because I have to defend the referees."

 

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. Is platini french for plank?

    From screwloose.computers, on Tue 3 Nov 10:52PM
  2. Let me say it in French, maybe that stupid of Platini­ will hear me! Pour quelqu'un qui a ete sur un­ terrain de foot comme toi, c'est incroyable que tu­ fermes tes yeux devant un injustice comme celui-ci. Tu­ fais la honte du monde francophone et l'ennemie de­ tout les amoureux du balon rond!!! Go to hell...allez­ au diable!!!

    From augustinahamba, on Tue 3 Nov 8:00PM
  3. who ehell this man think he is, by saying that the ref­ did not make a mistake, the ref do more than mistake­ secondly that he don't know who the ref is and he­ don't know his name also, this is bulshit, all the­ whole world sees that the stupid norway man is a­ cuspirector vocture, if not chelsea would have carry­ the champions league, this time around is not ref­ problem is now FIFA what did chelsea done organization­ done wrong that every one is agains chelsea, all i know­ that we are unstopable

    From Benson, on Tue 3 Nov 6:25PM
  4. That has to be the stupidest interview iv ever heard ,­ wat does he mean he does,nt no who the referee was­ before the game , half the world new who it was gona be­ a week before the match happend ,, and to say the ref­ did,nt make a mistake is appauling, im a chelsea fan­ and i hav spoken to barcelona , real madrid , man­ united , arsenal , liverpool fans , even xavi hernandez­ and pique said it was a mistake , so how in god,s name­ does one of the highest men in european football still­ deny the fact that the ref did make a mistake ,, come­ mon we all no that a refs decision during a match is­ final but at least he could hav bit the bullit and­ agreed it was a mistake .. we all no u cant treat a ref­ the way drogba did at the end of that match but­ emotions were high , its the same if u win a couple of­ thousand euro in a lottery ticket and wen u bring the­ ticket in they say someone has allready collected your­ money and its gone , of course your gona be angry its­ human instinct .. platini shut your mouth and please­ dont open it again because it stinks !!!!!

    From flynnthomas40, on Tue 3 Nov 5:41PM
  5. Platini I reserve my COMMENTS to comment my RESERVES­ later

    From Michael, on Tue 3 Nov 4:43PM
  6. How would you like Platini standing next to you in the­ trenches? What an absolute slug of a man.

    From Mark C, on Tue 3 Nov 4:03PM
  7. I HATE THE FRENCH SWINEHUNDZ...

    From THE FUHRER, on Tue 3 Nov 3:27PM
  8. ah yea sure u dont know the name of the referee huh?­ stup*d man

    From Kevin, on Tue 3 Nov 2:11PM
  9. May Ancelotti inspire Chelsea to win the greatest­ trophy ever then Platini and Overbro can be a thing to­ laugh at in the past especially the way Ovebro looks­ like uncle Fester from the Addams Family

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Tue 3 Nov 2:09PM
  10. i still dont understand this guy, you suspend drogba­ and let that ref go just like that. platini you failed­ on this one. you didn't jst want all english final­ again again again.

    From Lightone, on Tue 3 Nov 2:08PM
  11. Bosingwa was banned for speaking the truth, this makes­ me hate the injustice of men like Platini, he who has­ power can act corruptly, what can little powerless men­ do to stop it, nothing :(

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Tue 3 Nov 2:01PM
  12. Dynamic I totally agree with you he is going back on­ what he said cos he can do it now its too late to­ punish Ovebro, he should juts leave Chelosea alone he­ hates this club, I pray Chelsea dont have a ref like­ that again this season in the CL.

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Tue 3 Nov 1:59PM
  13. SHUT UP! LEAVE DROGBA N CHELSEA ALONE. U DONT DESERVE­ TO MAKE ANY COMMENT AFTER WHAT YOUR N CO. DONE LAST­ SEASON

    From andrew, on Tue 3 Nov 12:57PM
  14. Thank you helotism_free, exactly my point. So if the­ judge didnt have evidence against an accused he can­ still jail him? What a foul sense of humor Platini?!­ You can ban Drogba for an action you knew he was right­ to take only to come out and say, "if the ref was­ wrong you would still defend him, because you are­ suppose to" are you crazy mr Platini? What­ happened to ref now that you know the truth? Apparently­ you ban Drogba because he is a black man, and you­ covered it up by banning a white accomplice too. Shame­ on you, we all know Drogba is a great player, why do­ you think Chelsea keep him?

    Well, at least you bow­ for a great footballer.

    From Dynamic, on Tue 3 Nov 12:53PM
  15. hahahaha... Thanks Platini for your good words but its­ too late. Would be nice if you ban Ovrebo instead.

    From Partyzan, on Tue 3 Nov 12:28PM
  16. he's not making any sense

    From yip, on Tue 3 Nov 12:26PM
  17. Platini, i sincerely appreciate you and the you have­ been handling issues particularly football. But, i want­ to say this that you are very far from the truth, even­ your comments are comtraditory. You said you "I­ was like Drogba in the past when I saw an injustice as­ a player.meaning you acknowledged that drogba reacted­ to an injustice.
    Instead of the offender be brought to­ book for an injustice the case was turned the other way­ round. It is simply a case of no repeat of all english­ final period.

    From joelakams, on Tue 3 Nov 11:25AM
  18. "I was like Drogba in the past when I saw an­ injustice as a player. But I don't know­ Drogba's mind" Hmmm...pregnant with meaning.­ So Mr. UEFA now realises that there was injustice. Then­ why is the incompetent and corrupt official still­ allowed to officiate matches? Or are we saying that he­ was only a tool in the hands of the powers that be?­ UEFA, FIFA and the rest of you, please make this game­ more interesting and dont kill it with corruption.

    From Richieyoms, on Tue 3 Nov 10:37AM
  19. Just defend the referees with out being concerned in­ amending problems on the referees side.

    From santos, on Tue 3 Nov 10:30AM
  20. I just don't trust the man.

    From sanchez.santos, on Tue 3 Nov 10:10AM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account