Chelsea's title hopes threatened as
Drogba and Essien face bans
Chelsea face losing two key players to suspension, jeopardising
their title challenge, in the wake of the Carling Cup final brawl.
Detailed analysis of the incident at the Millennium Stadium on
Sunday suggests both Didier Drogba, the country's leading
goalscorer, and Michael Essien, their versatile midfielder, struck
opponents as Arsenal and Chelsea players grappled.
Neither incident was seen by the referee Howard Webb, but both
should be spotted by the Football Association's football regulation
unit as it studies tapes of the fracas. Broadcast material
indicates that Essien cuffed Denilson on the face, and Drogba
slapped the back of Cesc Fabregas' head. The FA also has access to
film that was not broadcast on the day. If the FA is prepared to
follow the letter of the law, and risk the wrath of Chelsea and
their lawyers, Drogba and Essien should be suspended for three
games, the penalty for "violent conduct".
The unit's first task is to consider appeals against the dismissals
of Emmanuel Adebayor and John Obi Mikel, who were sent off along
with Kolo Touré as the final exploded in injury-time. Arsenal
yesterday appealed against Adebayor's red card on the grounds of
mistaken identity. But while video evidence confirms it was
Emmanuel Eboué, his team-mate, who struck Wayne Bridge, it does not
fully exonerate Adebayor. Adebayor is seen aggressively wading into
the fracas, though it is not certain, on the evidence available to
The Independent, that he struck anyone.
