Thursday, November 13, 2008

Drogba May Face Police Charge After Coin Incident

Latest news reports suggest that controversial Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba may be soon facing up to separate investigations by both the police and Football Association following an incident which occurred during Wednesday nights League cup fourth round defeat at the hands of Burnley. The striker was apparently hit by a coin by one of the travelling supporters during his goal celebrations after giving Chelsea the lead at Stamford bridge, and promptly returned the favour by tossing the offending item back into the away enclosure. There were no Burnley fans reported injured following the incident, and Drogba has subsequently made a full public apology for his actions, but the consequences of them are yet to be fully determined. Drogba received a booking from the match referee Mr Keith Stroud for his part in the incident but may now face a more lengthly FA ban or even the possibility of a police charge, pending the results of the enquiry. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was once sent off at Highbury during an FA cup tie with Premier League rivals Arsenal for a similar incident in which he threw a coin which had been directed at him back into the terraces. For me there is little doubt that such acts from so called football supporters go far beyond the realms of what can be deemed acceptable football banter, but the actions of the player concerned are also certainly not what should be expected of an experienced international star, who has never remained far from the tabloid headlines for his conduct. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are to lose their star forward through suspension having already missed him for much of the season through injury, but the incident last night certainly marred what was otherwise a fantastic English cup tie.

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