Didier Drogba was wrong, but blame the fan

Chelsea striker deserves to be punished but whoever threw coin at Stamford Bridge is real villain of the piece

All the talk is about how long Didier Drogba's ban should be and that's taking the focus away from the person who started the whole thing - the fan who threw the coin at him.

There's no doubt Drogba was irresponsible and deserves to be punished by the FA, though not in my opinion the police. But it would be ridiculous if he paid a heavier penalty than David Norris, the Ipswich Town player who made the “handcuffs” sign in support of Luke McCormick, the goalkeeper who was sent to prison for causing the deaths of two kids in a car accident. That idiotic gesture must have been premeditated on some level while Drogba's was spontaneous. To me, Norris's behaviour was worse.

Incidents of players abusing fans, as the Chelsea striker did, are very rare while week in, week out, footballers are on the receiving end of disgusting abuse. It's human nature that occasionally some will crack. I certainly did a couple of times in my playing days. When Eric Cantona karate-kicked that Crystal Palace fan, a lot of players thought: “Good on you, Eric.” No player runs on to the pitch planning to start trouble with supporters, but at every game a percentage of fans turn up intending to dish out verbal abuse or worse.

In my Millwall days in the 1980s, I remember warming up at Upton Park and fans in the Chicken Run terrace were calling out my name for ages until I finally looked round - and 30 of them chorused “w***er”. Apparently they used to do it to someone every week, like it was their hobby. Grown men.

During a game at The Den, David Byrne, our winger, told a Millwall fan who was running along the terrace and giving him stick to “f*** off”. The fan took out a knife and said he was going to “do him” after the match. David went as white as a ghost.

Footballers don't worry about security arrangements at stadiums, but deep down they know that if a fan really wants to invade the pitch and get at them, he will. It is a shame that Aston Villa were not able to catch the supporter who threw a coin at Harry Redknapp last month and hit an assistant referee. A heavy punishment for that might have made the Burnley supporter think twice.

Drogba is not a popular player. He's done and said some daft things, but he wasn't trying to wind up the Burnley fans - he scored and in the adrenalin rush that followed he probably didn't realise where he was celebrating. He's got a big ego, so he's not the kind of character to laugh off having something chucked at him, spoiling his moment of glory. He reacted because he felt insulted.

Drogba must be held accountable, but he's not the main villain here. Stop fans abusing players and you stop the problem of players being pushed past breaking point.

Drogba admits violent conduct charge

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admitted on Monday a Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct after throwing a coin back into the crowd at Stamford Bridge during last Wednesday's League Cup defeat against Burnley.

An FA statement said a regulatory commission would hear Drogba's case on Tuesday based on video evidence and written submissions.

The incident, the subject of a police investigation, happened after the Ivory Coast striker had scored the opening goal in the fourth round tie. He also appeared to make an obscene gesture at the away fans.

Drogba, who was shown a yellow card for his actions, said after the match: "There is something I want to make clear. I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me.

"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."

Premier League leaders Chelsea issued a statement here Monday which said: "Didier Drogba has responded to the FA's charge of violent conduct and will not contest it."

The goal against Burnley was Drogba's first of a season where a knee injury has restricted him to just five league appearances.

Burnley, who play in English football's second-tier Championship, went on to equalise 20 minutes from time and then pulled off a shock win, 5-4 on penalties after extra-time.

Shocking The Drog Behavior !

The oddest aspect of the Didier Drogba coin toss was that he was allowed to carry on by the referee after aiming an abusive gesture at the Burnley fans, exchanging a few choice swear words and then forcibly returning a coin that a Burnley fan may or may not have 'dropped' on the pitch. The precedents are pretty clear on the matter.

The other incidents that I can recall that are similar are when Jamie Carragher under-armed a water bottle back into the crowd in 2002 (some people seem to recall that he threw a coin, but I remember it as a plastic bottle) and Gary Neville attempting to wind up buoyant Everton fans, in April 2005, by crashing a dead ball into the advertising hoardings - but inevitably missing and striking a spectator. Both received straight reds.

When El Hadji Diuof spat at Celtic fans at Celtic Park in March 2003 he was responding to being patted on the head following a slip; the referee was obviously unsighted otherwise another straight red would have been issued.

When Eric Cantona went somewhat further at Selhurst Park he had already been sent off - and was subsequently banned for six months.

That Drogba was booked can only suggest that the referee didn't see the whole incident and the FA will now inevitably respond with a minimum charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Add to this a possible court case - especially as there is a massive potential for ricochets in a situation where a rich man like Drogba is caught bang to rights. I would be surprised if fewer than 50 Burnley fans were 'hurt' by the coin!

Didier Dogba was clearly wound up by the loss of an automatic first team slot - Nic Anelka seems to be Scolari's first choice - and responded to that as well as some probably quite heated baiting. But there are no excuses, the apology was a good first step and may reduce the inevitable ban to just three games. Drogba has recently stated his intention to see out the remaining years of his contract - but if a bid comes in in January he may not now get the chance. Chelsea's finances are under a little pressure and if Scolari wants a little elbow room in the transfer market, Drogba could well be the catalyst.

CHELSEA VS BURNLEY - Match Result.

VS

Burnley caused the biggest upset of the round as they ensure Chelsea leave Stamford Bridge with a case of the blues as the visiting Clarets claim victory through a sudden death penalty shoot out. Both teams ended the affair with ten men. Chelsea 1-1 Burnley (Burnley win 5-4 on pens)

Lower league Burnley traveled to west London this evening looking to cause an upset in an old fashioned English cup tie. The league cup threw up some interesting results last night, and the 6,000 fans making the trip down from Lancashire would have been hoping for another this evening.

Chelsea are the only member of the top four that do not treat the tournament as an opportunity to test out either their youth players or their younger squad players, and the Blues had two time Champions League winner Deco; three Brazilian internationals: Alex, Belletti, and Mineiro; and two Ivorians, Kalou and Drogba, all making the starting eleven.


FIRST HALF

It took both teams a long time to settle into the fixture, and neither goalkeeper had a save to make for the opening stages of the game.

The most considerable piece of action arrived in the 20th minute when Salomon Kalou was clean through on goal but Burnley's Jensen was there to deflect the ball clear. Drogba then pounced on the rebound but Jensen stayed strong to ensure Chelsea's scoreline remained at zero.

The Blues got off the mark seven minutes later, though, when Didier Drogba, who has an arduous task knocking Nicolas Anelka off pole position considering the Frenchman's form, burst into the penalty box and slotted a right foot shot over the line and into the net.

Frank Lampard, who came on in place of Belletti, was largely responsible for Chelsea's improved passing play.

Burnley did not roll over after the Blues' opener, but lacked creation and vision in the final third despite playing with an increased pace and urgency.


SECOND HALF

Burnley's reaction after the break was in a similar vein to their play in the first half. They were lively and eager for the ball, but Chelsea dominated possession.

The visiting Clarets desperately tried to level the scoreline but the home side were, in typical Chelsea fashion, solid in defense.

Burnley's efforts were finally rewarded in the 70th minute, though, as Christopher Eagles, formerly of Manchester United, sent a low drive toward Cudicini, who couldn't claim the ball cleanly and spilled the shot.

Akinbiyi, with a true goal-poaching instinct, pounced on the rebound and made no mistake in thrashing the ball into the net.

The Blues could have won the game moments before the whistle for the full 90 when Di Santo was teed up an opportune strike but sent his shot wide of the marker.


EXTRA TIME

Franco di Santo injured his hamstring during extra time and because Luiz Felipe Scolari had used all three substitutes the Blues were forced to play the rest of the fixture with ten men.

Lampard had the ball in the net within four minutes of the restart, but he was flagged for offside and any celebrations in the crowd were premature.

Both sides have chances to score, with Lampard firing a shot high and wide after being set up by Malouda, and Elliot for Burnley had a volley saved by Cudicini.

In the second half of extra time it appeared as though both sides were content to play for penalties as Chelsea kept the ball around the midfield areas, and the initial energy that Burnley showed in normal time had taken an understandable back seat.

Relentless drama ensued in the closing stages of added time. Chelsea may have rued their spurned efforts as Wayne Bridge sent in a well-weighted cross only for Alex to miss the target from inside the six yard box.

Then, a minute later, Clarets captain Caldwell was sent for an early bath for a second bookable offense. Due to the earlier limping off of di Santo for Chelsea, the game finished ten against ten.


PENALTIES

Burnley - Graham Alexander - GOAL 1-0

Chelsea - Frank Lampard - GOAL 1-1

Burnley - Alan Mahon - GOAL 2-1

Chelsea - Wayne Bridge - MISS 2-1

Burnley - Chris Eagles - GOAL 3-1

Chelsea - Salomon Kalou - GOAL 3-2

Burnley - Alex Macdonald - GOAL 4-2

Chelsea - Paulo Ferreira - GOAL 4-3

Burnley - Wade Elliott - MISS 4-3

Chelsea - Florent Malouda - GOAL 4-4

Sudden death

Burnley - Michael Duff - GOAL 5-4

Chelsea - John Obi Mikel - MISS 5-4


LINE UPS

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Ivanovic, Bridge, Mineiro, Kalou, Deco, Belletti, Malouda, Drogba.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Jordan; Elliott, Gudjonsson, McCann, Eagles, Blake, Paterson.