Drogba could be set for the chop

GUUS HIDDINK has hinted he will drop Didier Drogba for Chelsea’s meeting with Arsenal tomorrow, although the Dutch manager believes the striker should not face club sanctions for his foul-mouthed televised outburst after Wednesday’s acrimonious Champions League exit to Barcelona.

Drogba provoked dismay amongst senior members of the Chelsea hierarchy for angrily claiming to a Sky TV camera that the club’s away goals defeat to Barca, which was effectively sealed by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo refusing four legitimate penalty appeals, was “a f***** disgrace”.

Hiddink denied that Roman Abramovich, the club owner, had raised Drogba’s behaviour when they met on Thursday, although a final decision on whether the Ivory Coast striker should be docked wages is not believed to have been made yet.

Ultimately, that will be decided by Chelsea’s board but Hiddink confirmed he will recommend no further punishment, with Drogba having publicly apologised for his behaviour on Thursday.

“It’s up to the board to decide but I don’t think he will be punished,” he said.

“I think apologising is, openly, a big step forward.

“I don’t regret saying I supported Didier’s actions at the time. I could feel the reaction of the players when there is injustice and, okay, Didier’s was an overreaction and that is not good, but he has said sorry for that.”

Chelsea’s decision on whether to punish Drogba might yet have ramifications for UEFA’s disciplinary committee who, having vowed to digest Ovrebo’s match report over the weekend before announcing their decision next week, might have been tempted to water down any potential punishment for Drogba if he had already been hit in the pocket by his club.

That point has not been lost on the west Londoners, which helps to explain why Drogba is likely to be left out of tomorrow’s trip to Emirates stadium.

Hiddink suggested yesterday that the striker’s ankle problem could prove the deciding factor, although the manager is also aware that playing Drogba in another high-profile game so soon after his blue-mouthed rant could smack of arrogance.

“I have a few hours to think about my team for Sunday,” Hiddink added. “We’ll see, physically and mentally, if he can play on Sunday.

“I’d like the emotions a little bit controlled now. I have to reflect very calmly before taking a decision on this.”

Ovrebo, who was forced to go into hiding after allegedly receiving death threats from Chelsea fans, broke his silence on the affair yesterday by telling Norwegian television that he “was not in shock” and felt “ready for a game next weekend”.

Hiddink, for his part, stressed his regret at the poisonous fall-out from Ovrebo’s performance and expressed his hope that the Scandinavian would not follow the example of Anders Frisk, the referee who decided to retire after he was accused of being in cahoots with Barcelona by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2005.

“I would regret it if he retired,” he added.

“It’s not worth anyone leaving his profession. We should give him the time and respect the individual and leave him in peace.”