Chelsea confirm appeal

Chelsea are to appeal the “unnecessarily harsh” punishments handed out by UEFA in the wake of their controversial Champions League semi-final defeat.

European football’s governing body banned striker Didier Drogba and right-back Jose Bosingwa – for four and three matches, respectively, with other games suspended – for their comments in the wake of the 1-1 second-leg draw with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in May which sent them out of the competition.