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
Is platini french for plank?
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!!!
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
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 !!!!!
Platini I reserve my COMMENTS to comment my RESERVES later
How would you like Platini standing next to you in the trenches? What an absolute slug of a man.
I HATE THE FRENCH SWINEHUNDZ...
ah yea sure u dont know the name of the referee huh? stup*d man
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
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.
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 :(
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.
SHUT UP! LEAVE DROGBA N CHELSEA ALONE. U DONT DESERVE TO MAKE ANY COMMENT AFTER WHAT YOUR N CO. DONE LAST SEASON
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.
hahahaha... Thanks Platini for your good words but its too late. Would be nice if you ban Ovrebo instead.
he's not making any sense
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.
"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.
Just defend the referees with out being concerned in amending problems on the referees side.
I just don't trust the man.
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