|
Hiddink ready to take Drogba out of Chelsea firing line
| |
|
|
Guus Hiddink revealed that Didier Drogba is
unlikely to be involved against Arsenal on Sunday. Photograph:
Tony O'Brien / Action Images
|
Didier Drogba is to escape any internal club discipline
for his post-match abuse of the referee Tom Henning Ovrebo following Chelsea's
Champions League elimination by Barcelona in midweek, though Guus Hiddink
is considering withdrawing the striker from the limelight for Sunday's
London derby at Arsenal.
The Ivorian sprinted back on to the pitch at the final whistle on Wednesday
to berate the referee and, having been pushed away from Ovrebo by stewards
and his manager, branded the Norwegian's performance "a fucking disgrace"
into a television camera. He has since issued a public apology for his
obscenity, which had been broadcast live to millions, though the Chelsea
hier-archy remain deeply unimpressed with his -conduct even in the context
of the team's controversial exit from European competition.
Uefa is scrutinising reports filed by Ovrebo and its match delegate at
Stamford Bridge and will announce next week whether Drogba, some of his
team-mates and Chelsea will be sanctioned for their livid reaction following
the 1-1 draw with Barcelona. Hiddink, however, has urged Roman Abramovich
and his board not to fine the striker, though he cast serious doubt on
whether the player will be considered for selection at the Emirates so
soon after his public outburst.
Asked whether the forward would be punished internally, Hiddink said:
"It's up to me and the board, but I don't think so. Apologising openly
is a big step forward. Fining him would not influence what Uefa might
do. They have their report, but we - and he - condemn his behaviour on
-camera. I have a few hours yet to think about [whether he is picked on]
Sunday. It's important for everything to calm down and get the emotions
back to normal, then we'll see.
"He had some problems in his ankle on Wednesday. We'll see, physically
and mentally, if he can play, but I have to reflect very calmly before
taking a decision on this. I don't regret saying I supported him after
the game. I could feel the reaction of the players when there is injustice.
If you lose in a normal way, you are sad but you accept it. But the way
we were eliminated generated that reaction. Didier shouldn't have done
what he did, but I can understand his emotions."
Others were less sympathetic last night, with Manchester City's captain,
Richard Dunne, suggesting Drogba, with a reputation for diving, had got
what he deserved. "What goes around comes around. You dive around
- and maybe a team will score against you in injury-time."
The Uefa delegate at Wednesday night's match, Janis Mezeckis of Latvia,
has confirmed that Drogba's actions will feature prominently in his report.
"The first thing I mentioned in my report was the behaviour of Drogba,"
he said. "What he did after the game, to the referee and one of the
assistants, was not correct. I also wrote about the two missiles I saw
thrown on to the pitch. I thought they were bottles. This is not acceptable."
Drogba has endured a difficult season, returning to the side after a knee
injury only to be suspended for throwing a coin back into the crowd in
a Carling Cup tie with Burnley. He was marginalised under Luiz Felipe
Scolari thereafter, though Hiddink recalled him to the first team and
appeared to be getting the best out of the player. Now, however, he has
tarnished his reputation within and outside the club yet again and, with
a year to run on his contract, his days at Stamford Bridge appear to be
numbered.
Hiddink suggested his post-match reaction would "not be an influence"
on his long-term future, though he added: "That's not up to me, to
be honest. Certainly he can learn something from the likes of Frank Lampard
and the way he reacted, swapping shirts with [Andres] Iniesta. Frank also
felt this injustice, but you could not change things at the end. You calm
down and congratulate your opponents. Didier can learn something from
that. He over-reacted. In the heat of the game, I can understand his emotions,
but there must always be a level of dignity."
The indignity was extended to threats, largely posted on the internet,
directed at Ovrebo who was smuggled out of the stadium, and later the
country, by Uefa as swiftly as possible. His house in Oslo remains under
police guard, though the 42-year-old insists he is not in hiding and is
ready to officiate in the match between Brann and Start, as scheduled,
next weekend. "I'm ready for the game," he said. "I'm not
shocked."
." Asked whether he and his players might consider apologising for
their public criticisms of Ovrebo, Hiddink added: "I have worked
in some countries where, after defeats, I've had to go away from a game
in a car putting my foot on the gas to be speedy away from the stadium.
I don't think we are fully responsible for what happened afterwards."
There remains smouldering discontent at Chelsea that their four penalty
appeals - two of which Hiddink believes were clearcut - were turned down.
The goalkeeper Petr Cech described Ovrebo's decisions as "unbelievable"
and urged Uefa to introduce video replay technology to assist referees
at contentious moments. "They should consider the incidents which
have happened in the two semi-finals," said Cech, "and realise
that with the implementation of video referees, they could not ever have
happened."
"We have to leave the man in peace," said Hiddink. "I have
heard indirectly that they have admitted they made some poor decisions
that had an influence on the game
There could be better news for one of Chelsea's other miscreants, Michael
Ballack, who has reportedly been offered a one-year extension until 2010
on a contract currently worth £121,000 a week.
Guardian.co.uk,
09 May 2009
|
|
