11 May 2009

Chelsea manager says Drogba shouldn't be punished for outburst

11:39 am on 11 May 2009

The Chelsea striker Didier Drogba shouldn't be punished for his behaviour at the end of the Champions League semi-final football match against Barcelona, says Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

Drogba went berserk after the 1-all second-leg draw which knocked Chelsea out, haranguin the referee and screaming at a television camera, and could face the wrath of UEFA's disciplinary panel.

He has since apologised for abusing the referee and his rant at the pitchside camera.

Hiddink says the club doesn't know what is going to happen at this stage but feels UEFA should simply leave the matter following Drogba's apology.

UEFA appears in no rush to hand out any punishment saying it will collect all the evidence first.