Premier League - Drogba hit with three-match ban

Eurosport - Tue, 18 Nov 20:54:00 2008

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been handed a three-match ban after admitting an FA charge of violent conduct.

2008-2009 Chelsea Didier Drogba - 0

The Ivorian was charged after throwing a coin back into the crowd during the Blues' Carling Cup tie against Burnley at Stamford Bridge on November 12.

Drogba was booked at the time of the incident, although referee Keith Stroud confirmed the yellow card was brandished for approaching the away fans and not for missile-throwing.

That left the door open for Drogba to be retrospectively punished and he will now miss the league games against Newcastle, Arsenal and Bolton.

Chelsea went on to lose to Burnley on penalties and immediately after the game, Drogba issued an apology for his actions.

"This is something I want to make clear. I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me," Drogba said at the time.

"The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt, I just want to apologise for it.

"This is not something I should show in a football match and I want to apologise.

"It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more."

A three-match ban is considered standard punishment for such incidents; Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was also suspended for three games after a similar indiscretion in 2002.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 30 - 49 of 109

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. D punishmt is hash but accepted in good fate. It should be done 2 everybody not just drogba. It will b folly on d fa, if notin is done 2 burnley fans.

    From Emmanuel, on Tue 18 Nov 5:32PM

  2. Read my last comment mate !! Drogba, who incidentally I rate, should NOT have run over to the opposing fans. What was he expecting, hugs and kisses !! He deliberately set out to wind them up. End of !!

    From razorafc, on Tue 18 Nov 5:29PM

  3. D punishmt is hash but accepted in good fate. It should be done 2 everybody not just drogba. It will b folly on d fa, if notin is done 2 burnley fans.

    From Emmanuel, on Tue 18 Nov 5:25PM

  4. D punishmt is hash but accepted in good fate. It should be done 2 everybody not just drogba. It will b folly on d fa, if notin is done 2 burnley fans.

    From Emmanuel, on Tue 18 Nov 5:24PM

  5. D punishmt is hash but accepted in good fate. It should be done 2 everybody not just drogba. It will b folly on d fa, if notin is done 2 burnley fans.

    From Emmanuel, on Tue 18 Nov 5:23PM

  6. D punishmt is hash but accepted in good fate. It should be done 2 everybody not just drogba. It will b folly on d fa, if notin is done 2 burnley fans.

    From Emmanuel, on Tue 18 Nov 5:22PM

  7. ALLEN H YOU SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERD

    ITS BETTER TO BE SILENT & BE THOUGHT OF AS A FOOL
    THAN TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH & REMOVE ALL DOUBT

    From U R SOLES, on Tue 18 Nov 5:22PM

  8. aj85553 - I wasn't having a

    From xtrouble, on Tue 18 Nov 5:20PM

  9. aj85553 - I wasn't having a

    From xtrouble, on Tue 18 Nov 5:20PM

  10. aj85553 - I wasn't having a

    From xtrouble, on Tue 18 Nov 5:20PM

  11. aj85553 - I wasn't having a

    From xtrouble, on Tue 18 Nov 5:20PM

  12. If you are the one who missiles by the fans, i think u WILL DO THE SAME THING. If you get punch by stranger suddenly, will you happy or you will angry? Ask yourself those who said Drogba is wrong. Drogba should not have done what he did IF the Burnley fans did not started it.

    From khorly@..., on Tue 18 Nov 5:18PM

  13. Drogba has became a liability.

    And Chelsea should have traded him last season..

    Good luck to Chelsea fans with more of Drogba,s emotional outbursts.

    From moshzed, on Tue 18 Nov 5:14PM

  14. Well I take it that in a game of football emotions and tempers do rise, espesially if you rae frustrating for loosing to a lesser team.This is what happened with Didier..but to me the punishment is okay coz Drogba has been involved in many incidents which to me they are a disgrace to Chelsea team.The team has to also caution him with his attitude, but as for the fans the law has to be used.If fans cant be charged for the incident or their team which played with Chelsea then justice will not be done. Tengo Silas

    From mothaka, on Tue 18 Nov 5:12PM

  15. well said Mad Sween

    From vlf126, on Tue 18 Nov 5:11PM

  16. all you chelsea fans stop crying over drogba he got what he deserves good on the fa and old red nose two match ban well it mite keep his gob shut liverpool for the league

    From kmandjc@..., on Tue 18 Nov 5:08PM

  17. should have get 12 match ban and ban from UK .

    From karzanmohamed79, on Tue 18 Nov 5:06PM

  18. should have got 12 match ban , and ban from uk .

    From karzanmohamed79, on Tue 18 Nov 5:02PM

  19. Alan h probably a liverpool fan by the comment, a brainless tos*pot with nothing interesting to say.

    From J W, on Tue 18 Nov 5:02PM

  20. gban2341, I have said before and will say again, any player that scores a goal and runs directly over to the opposition fans is inciting trouble and they cant be blamed for venting their anger. Am not saying anything should be thrown etc but can sympathise with them if Drogba wanted to rub their noses in it. By his actions he is showing that he has no respect for those fans. Chelsea fans would have probably reacted in the same way. If they could have got to him they would have. They couldnt so next best thing was to launch something !! I can guarantee you he wouldnt have got within punching distance of them !

    From razorafc, on Tue 18 Nov 5:02PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

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