Chelsea ponder appeal against UEFA punishment
Chelsea will consider their next move after UEFA came down hard on them for their angry reaction to going out of the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona last month.




Didier Drogba is booked for arguing with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo

While the official line is that they will take their time to decide upon their next move, it is thought they will appeal due to the severity of the punishment handed down to Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa.

Drogba will miss the first four games of the group stage next season, with another two matches suspended. Bosingwa has been banned for three matches with one suspended. Chelsea were fined £85,000 for the improper conduct of their players and missile throwing by their supporters.

Drogba and Bosingwa were facing charges of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments. Drogba harangued Ovrebo after the final whistle and called the Norwegian ''a f***ing disgrace'' on live television, while Bosingwa told Portuguese TV station RTP: "I do not know if he is a referee or a thief. There are no words to describe the person that was on the pitch here.''

Chelsea have until Saturday to officially lodge an appeal against the decision.









Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been banned for four European matches by UEFA following his verbal assault on referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, with a further two-game ban suspended for two years.

Didier Drogba is booked for arguing with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo

The incident came at the end of Chelsea's dramatic exit from the Champions League against Barcelona. The Blues had four penalty appeals turned down during the semi-final second leg 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa has been banned for three matches, with a further one-match ban suspended. Both players face a two year probationary period, during which time the suspended bans can be called into force.

Drogba and Bosingwa were facing charges of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments. Drogba harangued Ovrebo after the final whistle and called the Norwegian ''a f***ing disgrace'' on live television, while Bosingwa told Portuguese TV station RTP: "I do not know if he is a referee or a thief. There are no words to describe the person that was on the pitch here.''

Both players later apologised for their reactions.

UEFA have also fined Chelsea £85,000 for the improper conduct of their players and missile throwing by their supporters.

The club and players have three days in which to lodge an appeal. A spokesman for Chelsea said: "We are considering our response.''

Chelsea were knocked out in dramatic circumstances when Barcelona's Andres Iniesta scored a crucial away goal in stoppage time to equalise Michael Essien's opener, leading to a furious reaction from Chelsea players to Ovrebo who waved away several penalty claims for the home side.

UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner said the sanctions were "fairly strict but appropriate".

"We have to set certain standards," Faulkner told BBC Radio Five. "We do have a 'Respect' campaign and the UEFA president (Michel Platini) is instrumental behind that.

"The players are key to that, in setting a good example both on and off the pitch. The club obviously has a responsibility for the way their players behave as well.

"All in all, that's the reasoning for the decision."