While the world awaits UEFA’s verdict on Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack’s punishment, the media have been making their own suggestions.
Most agree that Le Drog should receive a minimum ban of six European games, which would see him miss the group stages of the Champions League 2009/10. Ex Premier League ref Jeff Winter concurs, adding that Michael Ballack should be ruled out for four games for his ridiculous non-contact pursuit of Tom Henning Øvrebø. His former colleague Graham Poll has also waded in, suggesting a slightly harsher eight to ten matches for the Ivorian and five to six for the German.
The Guardian’sRichard Williams, however, is calling for much more drastic action:
The withdrawal of their invitation to next season’s Champions League, taking tens of millions of pounds in revenue along with it, would soon persuade them to find a way of curbing their players’ excesses, and others would follow their example. If Chelsea’s players and managerial staff are reluctant to abandon the exaggerated sense of grievance instilled and fostered by Jose Mourinho’s regime, they will have to be taught a lesson.
So, should UEFA make an example of the Blues and give them the harshest punishment of all? Or is a brief player ban and a stern ticking off much more appropriate? Let us know your thoughts below…
It’s the one who did it on the pitch yesterday, of course!
While his team mates were busy conceding three points at Upton Park yesterday, Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller went on a mission to make himself the least popular man in Tony Pulis’ side. The Jamaican felt that Stoke captain Andy Griffin was at fault for Carlton Cole’s equaliser, and made his feelings clear via the medium of face slapping.
For his temporary moment of insanity, Fuller is expected to receive a fine of two weeks wages, making his wallet around £20,000 lighter during this year’s January sales.
Red Devils naughty behaviour punished with minuscule penalty
Image: PA Photos
For receiving a mammoth seven yellow cards during their deadlocked visit to Stamford Bridge yesterday, Manchester Utd were treated to an automatic fine of £25k. Throughout the match, Rio Ferdinand was in a typically vocal mood, while the team in red could have learned nothing about respect from their manager, who spent most of the game indulging in his favourite pastime of haranguing the fourth official.
Manchester Utd certainly deserve reprimanding for their disrespectful demeanor, yet the impunity of a £25k is problematic; as Adrian Chiles pointed out on MOTD2, it works out as the equivalent of fining fellow pundit Lee Dixon five pence. The chaps at the Beeb show even suggested sending off a nominated player if six or more yellow cards are received by a single team.
So, should the fine be increased in order to genuinely reprimand the big boys? Would it be a better system if the fine money went straight to charity? Or should it be scrapped all together? Let us know with a vote and comment below…
Norwich keeper doesn’t care to fund Shearer’s BBC pay packet
A very conservative estimate of a Championship goalkeeper’s salary would be somewhere in the region of £200,000 to £300,000. This, you will undoubtedly agree, is a sufficient amount to cover the annual £139.50 TV licence required for every household on this island with an idiot box. Norwich City goalkeeper David Marshall would beg to differ:
Former Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall was yesterday fined £800 for not paying his TV licence. Marshall, 23, was handed the fine by magistrates in Norwich. The court was told that the keeper was caught watching TV without a valid licence. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £60 and a £15 victim surcharge.
What a poor example this man is setting. If nobody paid their licence fee, who would give Jonathan Ross the millions he deserves? Who would pay Steve McLaren to go and commentate on tournaments he should have been participating in? Who would broadcast England matches and FA Cup games? We could go on…
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