Six Matches Ban for Drogba
Chelsea were 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 Jose 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 tonight or tomorrow.
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 today 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.
"Chelsea FC have been fined 100,000 euros for the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters at the match against Barcelona, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"Either the club or the players may appeal against the decision within three days of the despatch of the reasoned decision."
Referee Ovrebo was at the centre of controversy after rejecting four Chelsea penalty appeals during the second leg of the semi-final.
Chelsea were leading through Michael Essien's early strike but Andreas Iniesta's late away goal gave Barca a place in the final, where they beat Manchester United to win the trophy.
Drogba's foul-mouthed rant at the official was seen by millions of television viewers.
The Ivorian stunned the worldwide audience by shouting: "It's a ******* disgrace" straight at the cameras.
He later apologised for his behaviour.
The ban will rule him out of most of the club's Champions League group stage next season.
Bosingwa was banned for labelling Ovrebo a "thief" in an interview - words he later retracted.
But he too will miss a large chunk of Chelsea's Champions League group stage unless the club can get the suspensions reduced on appeal.
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 Jose 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 tonight or tomorrow.
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 today 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.
"Chelsea FC have been fined 100,000 euros for the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters at the match against Barcelona, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"Either the club or the players may appeal against the decision within three days of the despatch of the reasoned decision."
Referee Ovrebo was at the centre of controversy after rejecting four Chelsea penalty appeals during the second leg of the semi-final.
Chelsea were leading through Michael Essien's early strike but Andreas Iniesta's late away goal gave Barca a place in the final, where they beat Manchester United to win the trophy.
Drogba's foul-mouthed rant at the official was seen by millions of television viewers.
The Ivorian stunned the worldwide audience by shouting: "It's a ******* disgrace" straight at the cameras.
He later apologised for his behaviour.
The ban will rule him out of most of the club's Champions League group stage next season.
Bosingwa was banned for labelling Ovrebo a "thief" in an interview - words he later retracted.
But he too will miss a large chunk of Chelsea's Champions League group stage unless the club can get the suspensions reduced on appeal.
Tags: chelsea fc, didierogba, jose bosingwa, tom henning ovrebo, uefa champions league
Comment
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Comment by Indio on June 28, 2009 at 10:48am -
Old news but still worth a comment.
The ref should be fined too, "disgusting", he might think when he sees the replay. Good to have standards not just for the players but for refs too, they are part of the game.
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Comment by spainfootball on June 21, 2009 at 8:24pm -
OK OK OK Boswinga and Drogba were pathetic. Chelsea - although they were unlucky to lose - played rubbish football in both games.
Barça won and this was good for football.
Perhaps Drogba and Boswinga should follow John Terry's example - he went down to the Barcelona dressing room and congratulated every player.
THAT is an example of being a gentleman and a good loser.
Well done, John Terry!
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Comment by Enrico Caruso on June 21, 2009 at 1:02am -
Why wasn't the ref fined for being a THIEF?
I love when the FIX is in.
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Comment by MySoccerPlace.net on June 20, 2009 at 5:41pm - Yes, I can agree with you on that point. Drogba overreacted with his vocabular, that's for sure. But I can't blame him completely and I hate when UEFA punish only the players and not Ovrebo ( at least not public, we're yet to see if he's gonna ref some important matches in the future ).
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Comment by spainfootball on June 20, 2009 at 3:41pm
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I think the suspensions are justified. Although the the players were understandably frustrated and upset at being knocked out by Iniesta's 93rd minute goal, their behaviour was unacceptable.
In these mega-money days, players are media icons and consequently, role models for the young and impressionable - they have to learn to curb their impulses.
For this reason, I'm in complete agreement with the decision.
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Comment by MySoccerPlace.net on June 18, 2009 at 7:09pm
- I agree completely but this was something expected. UEFA would never hit at itself, its easiest to hit players
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Comment by CrnoBeli on June 18, 2009 at 11:35am - Scottish ref's name is Thompson.
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Comment by Heleri Müller on June 18, 2009 at 11:32am -
I hope Ovrebo won`t be a referee anymore..
The job he did in that match was awful..
I hate that man..
But Chelsea players should handle it better..but who could blame them..
I would of done the same thing and more :D
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Comment by CrnoBeli on June 18, 2009 at 11:29am
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All of us have seen that Drogba and Bosingwa have right.Ref was bribed thief! The top of his audacious conducts was denying of penalty for Chelsea after 1:1 when one Barcelona player defended goal with arm. And all of that after at least 2 must blow penalties ?!It is obvious that UEFA deliberately choose him to "finish the job" and to move Barcelona to final. I think the same ref destroyed one of previous finals between Barcelona and Arsenal. Instead of ban him for life at that time they ban Chelsea players now ?! They sent him to rob Chelsea and now ban Chelsea players ?! That strengthen me in believe that all was planned well in some neo-nazi UEFA. sick brain I am sick of their unfair punishments and their refs like the one (Thimpson Scotland) they have sent for Partizan-Fenerbahce game where he give Fenerbahce a present penalty, disallow one Partizan goal and let Fenerbahce score second from offside or Mehuto Gonzales on second leg when he canceled Fenerbahce's own goal for not exist offside?! Later he said "What do you want ? UEFA league is enough for you..." .What is the ban for that ? And before the game he did not come to official meeting with clubs because he was tired of orgy with some Turk cheeks in Istanbul.
I think ref is not the person who should decide which team should play where. Players should decide under fair game! If UEFA can not affort fair-play competition then clubs should make their own competition! Down with UEFA !
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