While you could understand Chelsea fans being miffed at the failure of the ref to award at least 2 penalties to their team, here is a perfect example of where players could have taken a leaf out of RL's book and taken the defeat on the chin, shook hands and walked off the pitch with dignity. The talking could and should be done afterwards.

There are plenty of hotheads and conspiracy theorists in all sports who can't wait to get stuck in, but IMHO the obscene reactions of Drogba and Ballack in particular have greatly inflamed the situation, and the fans have followed their lead, so that now we have death threats, police guards and another referee maybe driven out of refereeing under possible threats to the safety of himself and even his family.

The fact that this was a Champions League semi final doesn't make his decisions any worse, but does help to keep the Chelsea players out of another big final. Although it equally does help to get the Barca players into the same final. So what? It was just another game of football.

That discussions and analysis and criticism should take place afterwards is entirely right and fair, but how some of the players reacted should be met with very lengthy bans, and the manager suggesting he supports their behaviour should earn Chelsea a stiff penalty too. Like a ban from Europe for failing to control their players.

Too many are looking to excuse Drogba, but he had no need to lose it like he did, he could have kept his temper under control and instead chose to lose the plot. He needs to be made an example of.

Player behaviour has blown the thing up into a very seriously nasty incident, and if they had managed to behave like men, like rugby league players, not like spoilt brats, then they would have gone up in my estimation. Instead we got what we got, especially from the wildman Drogba, and the pantomime from Ballack. When Kipling wrote of triumph and disaster, I don't think he had these sort of hysterical, overpaid crybabies in mind.

Mind you, I wonder what the reaction on these boards would be if the RFL had done for a Cup semi what UEFA did and posted, pre-match, a [url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1178183/UEFA-website-fuels-Chelsea-match-rigging-theories-posting-score-prediction.htmlreport on their website[/url giving the correct score, stating that Barcelona would draw with a late goal, and even correctly giving out bookings?

Oh please. Footballers acting like mature adults? Never gonna happen. They're a bunch of overpaid 2 year olds who throw a paddy if they don't get their own way.

Chelsea may have had penalty calls turned down, but that's what happens when you've dishonest players like Drogba in your team. Ref's know the players who are likely to dive and those players aren't given the benifit of the doubt. Another case in point is the Everton vs Man U semi where Man U were denied a free kick for a foul on Ronaldo simply because Ronaldo is another dishonest player who throws himself to the ground when a stiff breeze blows past him.

It would be a bit harsh to ban you. I'll support the cause....

If they ban you then there's only one thing to say. 'It's a disgrace'.

It's a ing disgrace

Sorry FA. i've successfully steered this thread off topic. Where are the mods? You tube links and everything and they wonder why this country's going down the pan?!?!? Anyway I agree soccer players and fans need to realise what's important in life and it isn't a game of football no matter what the code is. You'd think a bunch off millionaires would have more important things to think about. the thing is that soccer has now become so consumed by money and keeping up with the Jones' whether that be players, officials or fans that it is no longer a sport and more a sports entertainment like Wrestling.

quality videos!

This behaviour in soccer isn't exactly new though is it? I know the FA have brought in a "respect" campaign but I haven't seen too much of it from players and managers alike.

They all paid lipservice to it at the start of the year, but really, unless the FA actually realises that THEY are the ones in power the situation won't change.

Surely the threat of a team losing their european spot (even though I don't think the players care enough about the team they play for to care about the club stature) would be a significant kick in the wallet, the only true way of penalising these people, to make them sit up and take notice

Whilst I agree with what's being said in principle, I think you are taking a non-emotional view of it. Reaching the final of that competition is the highest worldwide accolade a player can have. For some of the Chelsea lads, it may be the last chance they have.

A couple of points for consideration:
1. The referee was never actually touched.
2. I'd like to see anyone else put in that situation just smile, shake hands and walk off. Has anybody else experienced the adrenaline of a night like that?
3. Whilst RL players are on the whole better behaved, they aren't perfect in similar situations. E.g. Jimmy after the 2002 GF and Harris after MM 2007 to name but two.

Just to re-iterate here, I am by no means condoning what happened post game on Wednesday, but I think there's an element of viewing this through "perfect world" glasses.

No, but he was screamed at in the face then chased by the players

That's still a form of intimidation and it's completely unacceptable at any level in any sport

No, I am suggetsing players keep a lid on their emotions like men, not run around screaming like little girls.

What are you saying - that what Ballack did was OK "bcause he was emotional"? Because "he wouldn't be reaching the final"? I'm sorry, but that's just disgraceful.

What you are suggesting is that because these players could not change the fact that they were out, and were very upset, they should in those circumstances be allowed to bully, abuse and vilify the referee.

Let's say that the match was the semi-final of your local schools FA Vase, and let's say that Ballack, or indeed Drogba, was your son. What would you have said to him?


And your point is? This is only relevant in how long bans are given out. It has no bearing, at all, on the behaviour in question.


Yes. I remember feeling utterly cheated out of at least 2 Finals following Bradford, for example. I was as gutted as it gets. But I did not pursue the officials or run around screaming and carrying on. In fact (as you'd expect from RL fans) we all left the ground talking about the game like adults and we got over it. You're just making abject excuses for the inexcusable. Adrenaline does not make you lose control of your emotions or actions.


I would not condone any such outrageous behaviour at any time, but I wasn't claiming saintdom for all RL players, and your point does not in any way change the fact that RL players' behaviour towards officials is in no way comparable to footballers; and compared to the Chelsea fiasco, it is closer to sainthood.


The opposite. The tougher the call, the more of a man you have to be to take it on the chin. This is what earns respect. Unfortunately, these grown men cannot behave as such as they have been irretrievably spoiled, and have an infinitely inflated sense of their own importance and, in truth, do not have the slightest respect for the official at all. They are too big for their boots, and UEFA / Chelsea or whover has power to exact discipline has an opportunity to mark that fact by exacting appropriate punishments. If they do impose severe penalties then it might just strike home with these posturing prima donnas how absurd they actually are.

To bring it home to the players it may have been better if the Chelsea team had all gone and berated Drogba when he missed that sitter.

I'm not going to get drawn into a sparring match with you here FA. You obviously have a strong view on it and I know from experience, you're never going to back down regardless of responses back to you.

I just think it is easy to criticise the players for what they did (and rightly so), it is however understandable (note: not acceptable) for them to react in the way they did. And again, you have never been in that situation and being a player in that situation is different to being a fan.

... if it was your son?

Are they club taking any action against these players?

Or are they taking action in a St Helens type way?

Well of course I wouldn't be beaming with pride, but again it comes back to understanding why it happened and the exceptional circumstances surrounding the game.




Either that or I'd smack his bottom, tell him he's been a very naughty boy and get him to buy me another Porsche

Chelsea players are always the same! How Terry is England captain with way he behaves on pitch is amazing.

All Chelsea players in the clubs history?



Like what?

Been to odd cfc game and also watched them on sky. When ever ref gives other team a free kick or what have you most Chelsea players surround the ref giving him lip. Terry is always moaning constantly, he never shuts up!

Although Ashley Cole is by far the worst

I know a lot of the so called bigger teams do this but I often find Chelsea the worst culprits

Respect the refs my ar[ise[/i