Chelsea were on Wednesday considering their response to UEFA's decision to hand lengthy European bans to Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa and fine the club £85,000 following their controversial Champions League exit to Barcelona.
Ivorian striker Drogba was given a six-match ban - the last two suspended for two years - for his foul-mouthed confrontation with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of their Champions League semi-final defeat by Barcelona in May.
UEFA's control and disciplinary body also handed a four-match ban - the last game suspended for two years - to right-back Bosingwa.
The Portugal defender labelled Ovrebo a "thief" after the same game, while the club received a fine of £85,000 for the improper conduct of their players and for the throwing of missiles by their supporters.
A spokesman for Chelsea said: "We are considering our response."
Chelsea and both players have three days in which to launch an appeal and Chelsea have indicated they are likely to respond to the verdicts either later on Wednesday or Thursday.
The UEFA statement read: "Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been suspended for six UEFA club competition matches - the last two of which are deferred for a probationary period of two years - following incidents at the Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona in London on May 6. The decision was taken on Wednesday by the UEFA control and disciplinary body.
"In addition, Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa has been suspended for four UEFA club competition matches, the last of which is deferred for a probationary period of two years, for offences at the same match.
"Drogba and Bosingwa were facing charges of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments.
"Drogba's suspension applies to the next four UEFA club competition matches for which the player would be eligible, while Bosingwa's suspension applies to the next three UEFA club competition matches for which the player would be eligible."




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About the players reaction: it might have been inappropriate in front of TV but I could just see them react as men rather than footballers. And be honest: they are men not p...ies who accept humiliation and injustice which spoiled months of their hard work. No matter you like Chelsea or not, this is what happened!
VIDEO REFEREE FOR FOOTBALL! How about Ovrebo? No words about him? He just escapes what he did in front of millions during that match? Of course! Because people don't raise their voice against injustice. If you do, please join my group on Facebook: Justice for Football. It is not about Chelsea. It is about football!
This is disheartening as Ronaldo of Man Utd now to be plying his trade with Real Madrid FC recounted after their loss to Barca that no one is talking of the injustice to ChealseaFC...........what a way to cover the shame of UEFA for bringing the game into disrepute by appointing a mediocre to refer a Semi final match of Eufa champions league. Though Didi and Bosi might have over reacted what about the referee that provocate them, i thought we experience things like this only in Africa, now i knew better that Europeans are not at a least better than their African counterpart. The decison is harsh as the referee should also be punished for his mediocrity by EUFA what comes around goes around. Uefa should not make it look as if they supported a team against the other, there should be strict level playing ground for all teams no matter their status.
Hello everyone.....i have never seen a more blatant attempt to justify UEFA and that @#$% Platini's hatred against English teams......but u know what??? We will still come out of the group stages as champions of our group and i pray and hope we meet Barcelona again.....and this time we will prevail.....all my fellow Chelsea brothers and sisters......stay together......we have to win that ECC someday.....not even UEFA can hold us too longer....be strong and do not respond to those idiot Barcelona fans who obviously know nothing about football rules.....and i pray England dont get that Norwegian @#$% for the world cup.....Chelsea till i die!!!!
@#$%! How about the ref? What did he get? Some dosh from Barca?
The authorities have to make a very public example of the players - Drogba was hysterical and crude but the passion of the injustice he felt was clear - staying calm, being reflective and articulate isn't his job! His side were clearly cheated out of so many big decisions. I just wonder why any questions remain over the fact that the refereeing was biased. The question is why? Who or what informed it?
With time for considered review and reflection where is the response to the referee's performance? The authorities duck their responsibility to football supporters and undermine the integrity of the game by denying issues that arise over the poor and biased performance of their officials.
The sooner they employ technology to review incidents the better. They can make the outcomes of games more transparent - but they choose not to act. If they did we would have had an all English final.
drogba should be more proffesional he could of cried at the ref in the tunnel or in the refs changing room its shows the lack of respect chelsea teaches its players he acted like a spoilt kid ,yes bad decisions by ref but he is a pro not a little kid ,do the ranting off the pitch and out of site of tv ,,,chelsea should have punished him also but again in football these players they let them get away with it all the time ,,,
fifa ran a litmus test with the ref. in preparations for the world cup. This is what African countries see in every competition... therefore, inasmuch, therin whatsoever, as all things being equal, fifa just got the best ref. to deal with African in the world cup - afterall, Ovrebo is short-listed for the world cup.
i say give drogba a medal for telling the ref wot a c&#@ he was
had drogba not thrown himself about like he'd been shot every 5 mins maybe chelsea would have had a penalty, but his conduct was disgraceful after the final whistle no one can say otherwise!
It doesn't matter how a player reacts to anything. This is sports, not manners.
The people in the crowds did the same thing. The reality is, FIFA like all leagues like to make examples out of players with character rules and etc.
Like Zidane in the last world cup. it didn't matter that his opponent talked bad about the mans family, the referree only recognized the head butt.
And, then fifa afterwards penalizes.
These are grown men and women who play soccer at this level, let them be grown and let parents manage their kids.
dimitris i accept with you, the ref should be banned and should compensate chelsea. I accept to what has been handed to the player, but nothing was done to the provocative ref...
First - kids hear worse than this in schools every day and, in any case, I bet if they were watching with mum and dad that they heard worse on the night...
Second - yes Drogba and Bosi were in the wrong and should take their punishments. They are (maybe) a bit severe but they broke the rules and have to accept what is handed out.
Third - I've heard nothing about what sanctions will be taken against the ref - is he to be taken off top-tier matches. Whatever his intentions, he showed that he was not up to standard. (and yes - Chelsea might not have scored from all the spot-kicks but remember it is Frank Lampard taking, and there were three clear ones...)
Ovrebo maybe didn't make calls, but who is to stay that Chelsea would of score from the spot, some of the best players miss from the spot. This does not give and its NO EXCUSE for any player to react the way Drogba reacted, there are kids that look up to him and he reacts this way. Both players especially Drogba should of been suspended for more game.
No matter what the ref said or did, right or wrong, they should not have reacted the way they did. I think they got of lightly.
Drogba acted as thousands of CFC supporters reacted that night,Bosingwa is right .The ref is a THIEF and HE should be banned and compensate CFC
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