Drogba and Chelsea appeal over European bans

Is there no integrity left?
What I mean is, "Is there no integrity left in football players and football clubs?"

Didier Drogba of Chelsea FC had previously stated that he would accept any punishment given to him by UEFA. This was after he publicly apologised for his unsporting behaviour and abuse of Norway referee Tom Henning Ovrebo during and after the 2nd leg semi-final match between Chelsea and Barcelona.

Now Chelsea state that they will appeal against his ban (which is a six-match ban, with two games suspended for two years).


[Drogba abuses Ovrebo. BBC News]

I strongly suspect (and of course I have no proof) that Chelsea, being a rich club, obtained sound legal advice which led to a strategy of attempting to limit and minimize the impending punishment to their players. Viewed in this way, it is not unreasonable to see why Drogba publicly apologised and stated that he would accept any punishment from UEFA. UEFA's Disciplinary Committee may therefore have been "influenced" by this information and may perhaps had decided not to give their harshest punishment because they might have falsely believed that Chelsea and Drogba would not appeal. So, UEFA's Disciplinary Committee may have been duped and outsmarted!!

By not keeping his word, Drogba should feel ashamed. If Drogba knew about this strategy, he should feel doubly ashamed. Is there no integrity left in football players and football clubs?


Related Link: Life Ban for Chinese Player Who Attacked Referee

Reference: Chelsea appeal over European bans (BBC News)

Saturday, 20 June 2009

Chelsea have confirmed they will appeal against bans handed to Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa by Uefa after May's Champions League match with Barcelona. Drogba was given a six-match ban, with two games suspended for two years, for his row with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo. Bosingwa called Ovrebo a "thief" and serves a four-match ban, one suspended. Chelsea now have six more days to formally lodge their appeal, and are also set to contest a £85,000 for improper conduct by players and fans.

Before the bans were announced, Drogba had stated that he would accept any punishment given to him by Uefa. "My behaviour was not what Uefa and everyone wants to see in a football stadium," he said ahead of the governing body's verdict.

The Blues were stunned by the severity of the suspensions following a bitter 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semi-final, which saw them eliminated on the away goals rule. They felt referee Ovrebo should have awarded several penalties in the second half, and blamed him for their exit. Drogba swore into live TV cameras in front of millions of people, later apologising for his behaviour, while he and several other players surrounded the Norwegian official after the final whistle.

Andres Iniesta's late away goal gave Barca a place in the final where they beat Manchester United to win the prestigious trophy.