TERRY AND LAMPS MUST CONDEMN DROGBA
Chelsea heroes should be ashamed of spineless striker
FRANK LAMPARD. He's to blame. John Terry. Guilty as hell. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Because they are allowing every drop of their indomitable spirit to be flushed down the drain by Didier Drogba.
Terry and Lampard were magnificent in cruel defeat on Wednesday. Tough, tireless, fair and robbed of a place in the Champions League final by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo.
But the injustice has been reduced to a sub-plot by a team-mate who wouldn't know what a true team was if it smacked him in the face.
He would probably collapse in a heap and writhe around like a grounded eel ... but he still wouldn't know what it was.
Dismantling Drogba's character is becoming a waste of expensive newsprint. Listing his faults akin to shooting fish in a barrel. Terry and Lampard form the spine of their club. Too often, Drogba appears spineless.
He let his colleagues down in Moscow a year ago, he let them down at Stamford Bridge four days ago. He was largely responsible for the four minutes of added time in which Andres Iniesta gave Barcelona a thoroughly undeserved ticket to Rome.
He limped pitifully around for 10 minutes when Chelsea's boot should have been descending on Barca's neck. He gave Guus Hiddink no choice but to surrender his most potent threat just when he needed it most.
He sat on his backside when Terry and Lampard were putting theirs on the line.
With Drogba on the pitch against 10 men, Chelsea would now be heading for the Eternal City ... not for eternal damnation by UEFA.
Maybe he was injured. But you wouldn't have guessed from the tantrum he threw when called to the bench or from his demonic post-match demonstrations.
But what is the point of burying Drogba under another avalanche of vitriol? Or of European football's suits dishing out a disciplinary stretch?
Drogba is not going to listen to me. He's not going to listen to Michel Platini. He's certainly not going to listen to Stan Collymore whose voice boomed around the Bridge Press box, declaring that Drogba should never play for Chelsea again.
(We'll overlook the pot-kettle issue on this occasion).
Just as Cristiano Ronaldo won't take a blind bit of notice when his histrionics poison the pen of every journalist in the land.
And just as Joey Barton will cock a deaf 'un when he is condemned by phone-in johnnies as a stain on the game.
There is only one group of people who have a hope in hell of halting the pandemic of deception, fraud and dissent that riddles football.
The culprits' peers. It's up to Lampard and Terry to condemn Drogba.
Sure, the Chelsea captain's defence of Drogba is founded on the age-old philosophy of standing up for a team-mate in any circumstances.
But can Terry really approve? Can a man who feigns injury genuinely be supported by a man so bloody-minded he would feign fitness?
And it's the only thing that might work. An enemy can tell you until he is blue in the face that you are behaving like an idiot. But it's only when a friend tells you, that you take any notice.
And it is the Terrys and Lampards of this world who suffer.
Ovrebo had a truly shocking game. And the Chelsea fans who stopped me on the streets outside Stamford Bridge had every right to be consumed by a sense of injustice. Every right to espouse conspiracy theories.
But what chance does a referee have - whether he's from Norway, England or Timbuktu - when players consistently try to deceive him, consistently try to cheat, consistently try to waste time?
On at least two occasions, the referee felt moved to call for a stretcher such was Drogba's apparent agony, only to see the striker fit to burst through brick walls moments later.
This is not a Drogba witchhunt. This is not putting the onus of fair play on Terry and Lampard.
Wednesday's events were merely sypmtomatic of football's biggest problem. Officialdom cannot cure it. Referees' minds are muddled by the blur of brazen con-artistry that whizzes around them in almost every game. No wonder they make mistakes.
Only self-regulation can cure the problem. And self-regulation is at the core of any civilised society. The reason why the vast majority of the population do not steal is not because they fear punishment - it's because they know it's not right.
Evidence
Football justifies its faults with flimsy talk of high stakes, of raw emotion. A statesman of the game such as Hiddink did exactly that late on Wednesday evening.
As if that justifies Michael Ballack's pursuit of Ovrebo, as if that justifies Drogba's manic outbursts. It doesn't.
I was in Paris when England were denied a try about which even video evidence proved inconclusive.
Did they turn into a pack of baying wolves surrounding the referee? And don't tell me the stakes weren't high. It was a World Cup Final.
And sure, Darren Fletcher protested his innocence 24 hours before the Chelsea game and probably thought Roberto Rossetti's decision was a 'f****** disgrace'.
But did he bellow his feelings though a camera into the nation's living rooms? Of course not. Because there are still a lot of footballers who retain a modicum of decency.
And idealistic as it may sound, it is their duty to tell those who don't - even if they wear the same club crest - to stop cheating, to stop behaving like spoilt brats.
If they do, not only will a great game become even better but they might actually prevent travesties of justice such as the one that unfolded in all its grimness at Stamford Bridge.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn
This article has 28 comments
chelsea is the great football over the others. Didier Drogba take a correct action in championship. The Cup must be for chelsea. But, becuase of referee we loss it. the comming should be for us.
By ebisa neda. Posted August 10 2009 at 12:51 PM.
Its simple..uefa did not want another all english final...you do the maths..
By dave orchard. Posted May 16 2009 at 7:13 PM.
Drobga thinks everything should just go his way. After all Chelsea is not the first team to be denied a clear penalty and this Ref is not the first one to make a mistake. We have seen these things happening, why making so much noise now. Drobga must be kicked out of Chelsea, period. Wat a disgrace to football. How come most of his teammates could control themselves. He is used to getting away with murder.PUNISH HIM.
By pets. Posted May 12 2009 at 1:09 PM.
drogba was just frustrated by the refs decisions
By jesse nagiah. Posted May 11 2009 at 10:42 PM.
firstly i am a Chelsea fan and yes we find Drogba frustating either brilliant or having a historonics, sometimes at the same time! However we should be talking about making football fairer for the ref, the players and the supporters, bring in video replays. And another thought referees should be answerable to someone and punished accordingly, if i was that crap at my job i would be sacked..its not good enough to lazily blame Drogba's behaviour or and "the other cheats" mentioned in above articles to explain how difficult it is for referees- we as fans have a voice and we have all felt injustices, biased refereeing etc we need to stand up and be counted - not to ignore the issue burying our heads in sand - oh and blaming the obvious.
By londonmp. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:11 PM.
For long, as a football fan, i have opposed the introduction of video replays in football to rectify decions but i think the time has come for it watching the shameful performance of the norwegian referee. I support Drogba 99 per cent for venting his anger and frustration at the incompetent referee. It was a similar incident that happened to Venus Williams in tennis when she showed anger at the umpire's decision that led to the intoduction of the "eagle's eye" (video replays) in tennis...it is also done in U.S. basketball, baseball and American football...Lucky that it did not happen in Africa, Central America or South America where it would have taken armoured tanks to take the referee out of the stadium to safety. Football is a passionate game and until fifa recognises that and introduces video replays, we will be hearing of many Drogbas.
By bana. Posted May 10 2009 at 3:56 PM.
segio,maybe if diver drogba had of taken his chances then all this moaning would not have even been going on face it you are just bitter because you went out in the last minute to a bad piece of defending by essien and a striker who cant finish a game because hes that passionate to get to a cl final his diving gets his team the extra minutes that lose them the game when hes not even on the pitch now thats passion for his club
By neil . Posted May 10 2009 at 2:41 PM.
Andy Dunn has done what ? No1 sports journalist? Youre 'avin a laugh !!! When you can write as well as Martin Samuel, Oliver Holt and Paul Hayward then you might be considered but until then Andy you are just another gutter-snipe jumping on the bandwagon surrounding Didier Drogba. Hysteria ? You bet. Balanced reporting? Couldnt get further from the truth. You Mr Dunn along with all the other anti Chelsea brigade we have seen over past 4-5 years have an agenda. Maybe you should play football at the highest level and be denied a place in the Champions League final by incompetant decisions. Chelsea desrved to be in the final not Barcelona who had one shot on target. Best team in the world? That will be your next headline but like this one its utter BS.
By sergio. Posted May 10 2009 at 1:03 PM.
Apart from a few Johnny come lately Chelski "fans" no one really cares that they got beat. What people do care about who really love football is the constant dragging of the game through the gutter by the likes if Drogba and Ballack and the inane utterings of the likes of Terry and Lampard. Who the hell do these clowns think they are ? Anyone watching what happened and then tuned into the aftermath realise that here again was a bunch of overpayed, over privelidged and cheating supposedly adults letting themselves down in front of millions of kids who look upto them. Get a grip and try living in the real world and if you dont like the heat get out of the kitchen. Very few care about Chelsea or the ridiculously self important "Lamps" and "JT" opinions
By Mickey Free. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:20 PM.
I'm not a Chelsea fan but this just goes to show how much you know about team spirit Mr. Dunn. There's no way team members should be publicly having a go at one of their own especially someone as important to the team as Drogba. This is something for them to handle in private and, whether they do it or not, should never let anyone, especially the press, know a thing about it.
By blackred. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:26 PM.
Chelsea FC are a disgrace.
No history, cannot fill Stamford Bridge.
Cheque book club
Over the next 3 seasons they will slide down the table and be competing with Spurs and Arsenal.
By scouse mike. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:53 AM.
this guy Drogba remind me Aboue same character.they are a disgrace to our football.
By luke. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:31 AM.
I appreciate that the ref made mistakes in the game, but didn't Drogba make mistakes, too?? Should he not have scored when one on one with the keeper?? Did Essien not make a mistake when he flufffed his clearance, giving the ball straight to Messi in the build up to Barca's equalizer?? As for Jeff's comment about passion, where was Drogba's passion for the first 6 months of the season?? Let's not make excuses, as fantastic a player as Drogba is, his behaviour throughout his time at Chelsea has embarrassed the club. Why else would his own fan's boo him??
By Bonemonkey. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:19 AM.
I have been told that JT went and shook the hand of every Barca player in their changing room and apoligised for Drogbrat's behaviour.
If Drogbrat had been a fan he would have been arrested and banned from the football ground in future. I would have more respect for football and Chelsea if they kicked him off the team for the rest of the season and then offloaded him to another foreign team in the new season. I do feel for Chelsea supporters but in my mind this is payback for the diving and other bad sportsmanlike behaviour shown throughout the year by Drogbrat. Ballack was just as bad. There were others in the team who managed to swallow their pride and behave in an appropriate manner whilst the nation watched on
By Debbie. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:28 AM.
If i were in Drogba,s place i will go the extra mile and kick the ref,s ass.That is one of the worst officiating i have ever seen.If Uefa will commend this kind of officiating and condone it then i think we will begin to have a rethink about Uefa itself.This brings us to the issue of Video technology in football.If other sports can do it and get a good result without contraversy,why should football,s case be different?
By Thomas A Titus. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:24 AM.
I am grateful for so much understanding from so many different people. Yes Chelsea fans understand that Drogba went over the top BUT for God's sake surely you can see why. If we had lost fair and square it would have been difficult enough but to lose this way is almost unbearable - at least in the short term. We had so much unfinished business in the way we lost the final last year and it seemed as though we were going to be able to put that right.
By Marian Humphries. Posted May 10 2009 at 10:54 AM.
First of, I would have reacted no different to Drogba in the heat of the moment. He has apologised for his actions which I thought was genuine in the circumstances considering his indignation. Do you support Man utd or Liverpool, Mr. Chris Lumb? 9/10 do so let me tell you this, You have one of the two greatest cheats in world football playing for you, Gerrard/Cristiano whichever applicable. The only one that should be apologising here is the UEFA. They shafted, ransacked and plundered Chelsea by greasing the palm of the official. It's clear as day to me and I'm not even a Chelsea fan. Just a honest individual.
By Jeniffer. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:24 AM.
I agree, but nothing will change when you get your own fans thinking nothing is wrong and then try to make excuses, that other clubs are doing it. When you keep diving you must expect not to get penelties, when you are actually fouled.
I would like players sent of for a blatent dive.
By chris lumb. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:44 AM.
Isn't easy and cheap shot to make an African villain and choosen ones heroes?
The press would have been all over Drog or any African player if they had missed a penalty. Let reserve excuses for choosen ones.
We have become much more clerver in the use of langague but the world for some people has not changed that much, has it?
By Tom. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:50 AM.
By james: I guess you are a new United Fan!!! when Keane, Stamp, Beckham, Giggs, Neville Chased Andy D Urso around the field after awarding a penalty I cant remember any of them being kicked out.
By Omar Jamal Williams. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:00 AM.
When Thierry Henry went off the boil after they lost at home to Newcastle nobody condemned him, when Cantona flew into the crowd, he was closed getting an MBE (Martial-art British Empire) in France, Holland and Belgium they all feel that the media are been prejudice against the Chelsea player...
By Ola Ray. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:56 AM.
Why is that it is only Drogba who is being nailed,what about Ballack.
By james. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:48 AM.
The bottom line with Drogba and Ballack both crossed the line. Any premier league referee would not be chased across the pitch with a player clipping their heals. Both players crossed the line.
I am a united supported and I think Ronaldo is petulant and referees miss half of the stunts he pulls. However if any united player reacted in the way chelsea players did mid week they would simply be dropped or transfer listed. Drogba didnt cost them the match or last years trophy the simple mathematics of placing the ball in the net more times than your opponent failed them! again
By steven woods. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:40 AM.
Good article in principle, Andy... the pot/kettle line made me laugh rather loudly.
By Chriso. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:40 AM.
What a load of rubbish ! Jt and Lamps are not responsible for the way Drogba behaves. Are you saying that RIO ferdinand should bring ronaldo and the rest of his team mates into line ? or that Judas gallas should give walcott and fabregas a slap for their diving antics ? Maybe steven gerrard could condem himself and carragher kick him up the back side, cos there is no bigger diver in the prem than him.
UEFA, biased or not, to blame for chelsea's hand picked ref that let barca through or not, Should now set an example of drogba ballack and bosingwa. for drogba it is a straight forward life time ban from playing in the champions league. ballack and bosingwa should both get 12 month bans and be fined two weeks wages.
Have the guts to do this and you will see players start to give the refs more respect.....even if they do get the easiest of decisions wrong. Only the clubs captain on the pitch should talk to the ref, end of story, all other players should stand aside and leave it to him, what use is a skipper otherwise, and the refs must be allowed the benefit of video replays, then if a captain complains persistantly and wrongly, the ref can show him his wrong before booking him.
This and only this will get the match officials any kind of respect.
By fred. Posted May 10 2009 at 3:38 AM.
I guess Steven Gerrard should also be responsible for telling his liverpool teammates to stop diving as well. Oh wait...he, like so many other players 'dives' too!
By Peter A. Posted May 10 2009 at 2:51 AM.
Passion is what he showed and it came out wrong. No on is perfect but he let the occasion get to him. he needs redemption more than anyone after what happened in Moscow and he scored in 5 succesive games ,his desire to repay the likes of lamps and JT was taken away from him and he lost it . I feel for the lad.
By Jeff. Posted May 10 2009 at 2:45 AM.
PREACH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is EXACTLY what I've been thinking myself!
By James. Posted May 10 2009 at 2:23 AM.