Hall of shame: Didier Drogba is shown a red card
for a foul on Inter Milan's Thiago Motta earlier this month (above)
while the striker points a finger at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo
after last year's Champions League defeat to Barcelona
(below)
Didier Drogba has been banned for two matches by UEFA
for his red card against Inter Milan. The
Chelsea striker was sent off in
the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on March 16 for stamping on
Thiago Motta.
The 32-year-old already had a two-match suspended ban hanging
over him for his behaviour towards referee Tom Henning Ovrebo in
last season's semi-final against Barcelona. That suspended ban is
understood to relate to behaviour towards match officials, but the
probationary period has now been extended from July 2011 to July
2013.
UEFA said in a statement: 'Chelsea FC striker Didier Drogba has
been suspended by UEFA's control and disciplinary body for two
European club competition matches after being sent off in the UEFA
Champions League round of 16 second leg against FC Internazionale
Milano in London on 16 March.
'The suspension applies to the next two UEFA club competition
matches for which Drogba would be eligible.
'The player's existing period of probation, which began on 15
July 2009 and was originally intended to run for two years, has
also been extended to 15 July 2013.
'An appeal may be lodged within three days of the sending of the
reasoned decision.' Drogba had insisted his stamp on Motta was
accidental and Chelsea had hoped he would pick up just a
single-match ban.
Drogba said after the match: 'The referee was a bit hard on me
for this red card. I stepped on his tendon, but it was not
intentional and I was more focused on the cross and the ball. I'm
going to try to make it better. All have been unhappy endings, so I
hope next season the Champions League will be mine.'
The Ivory Coast star missed the start of this season's Champions
League campaign when he was banned for four matches by UEFA
following the Barcelona semi-final, with a further two games
suspended, although the ban was reduced to three games after
Chelsea appealed.