UEFA general secretary David Taylor believes Didier Drogba's midweek outburst was a blow to the 'Respect' campaign - and has admitted Chelsea may have to wait several weeks before discovering his fate.
European football's governing body are collecting evidence before deciding whether to charge Drogba - and possibly his team-mate Michael Ballack and the Blues themselves - for the ugly scenes that marred Wednesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.
"It was not pleasant to see, not the sort of example one wants," said Taylor, whose employers, like the Football Association, have striven to improve conduct towards officials. "UEFA has a respect campaign and this just flies in the face of these worthy endeavours."
Drogba harangued Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the final whistle for failing to award a penalty to Chelsea despite several strong appeals, and then swore audibly at a television camera before leaving the pitch.
Midfielder Ballack also drew criticism for chasing and shouting at Ovrebo in the dying moments of the game, while the Blues could face action for failing to control their players.
Taylor admits UEFA "expect to take action" of some kind, although he was "pleased" with the apology issued by Drogba, through the club's website, for his behaviour.
He would not, however, be drawn on the possible outcome of UEFA's ongoing investigation.
"The proceedings are instigated by UEFA but the decision is made by the control and disciplinary body, which is quasi-independent," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"They look at all the evidence, including video evidence, the objective and subjective factors, the mitigating circumstances - if any - before they come to some judgment.
"You can speculate, will somebody get this sentence or that sentence? It's pure speculation."
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UEFA i have seen that u people hv ur own club just no something 2day u can not eat ur cake and have it the ref was faulty but still the player are been blame go ahead an do wht ever u want
UEFA might come @#$% Drogba or Chelsea because already they dont want Chelsea. We've seen worse happening in term of fans behaviour what is the punishment just one game behind close door. But they can use sledge hammer to kill the mosquito in case of chelsea. We all know UEFA interest.
Respect is reciprocal. It suprised when these bureaucrat talk about this respect campaign as if it will come only from players. Referee must earn respect by good in their job and the best way to do this is having video evidence and assisted by fourth official. Then no one will disrespect the referee again.
David Taylor so far up Lady Alex Fergusons arse its got to be seen to be believed. If all this had happened to the scum there would have been a replay. Shame the final isn't in Munich ..................................
lmao @ iyahsino: A european conspiracy in europe... really? not in antarctica then?
christ, the kids arejust getting dumber anddumber :/
If it wasnt for chelski's owner, chelskis still would never be in the champions league nor in top three of the English league. Thanks to these billionaires your premiership top has replaced Italy and in the past 3 years have done better than la liga even (the best league in the world).
god yahoo just when r u gonna learn already
Welcome to the world of bigger clubs which play enough semis to actually feel robbed. Has happened a hundred times to Barca.
The only other penalty which sure would of been a penalty (pique's hand struck) if it were not FOR THE REFEREE DISREGARDING THE ATTACK ON ALVES WHICH MADE THE BALL HIT PIQUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. so that one is off.
To Chuma: Chelskis should of had one penalty: when it was 1-1. Valdes could of saved and made it even more dramatic with no crying. If I would try to think back to when referees have fmessed up vs barca, the list would be longer than years chelsea has existed as a club.
yahoo's technicians are so amateur , you'd think they are from the city!
UEFA can go to hell,what drogba and ballack did wasn,t wrong.Hey what about the ovrebo who doesn,t know his career.If UEFA should have blame,then the refree must be.Pls.leave Chelsea players alone
arg
@#$%. I thought with all the modern technology and four refree format that Ovrebo would not have done what he did! It is a disgrace to football that after working so hard, one is undone by the selfisnness and incompetence. What actions are against Ovrebo, Ballack and Drogba? We all humans and even if the Chelsea duo took it so badly but if you were in their shoe what would you have done differently? Crying was out of the question it was daylight robbery.
Does it mean what did referee did was right?
yea drogba is the only player in the world to show no respect.
this needs forgot about now.
Fkuc UEFA, bunch of idiots who r all corrupted.
Now they are trying to blame Drogba for lack of respect lol...what a fcking joke
u guys should be talking about the ref who dont care about his career only how to send english team out of champions league
all of u writing about drogba are jelous of him. he is better than all u of ur ppls put together.
i could not agree with you more harry st george UEFA sit in there marble halls with idiots like plattini jealous of the premireship and the way it is going so to mar every thing they send rubish referees over hear knowing that the pasion suporters have will vioce there opinion in no uncertain terms now there on about there must be at least 5 or 6 home base players in there teams all this just so europe can come level with us so instead of going foward we will be going back to th late 80 early 90 when this rule was in
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