Chelsea block Drogba questions

Last Modified: 14 Nov 2008
By: Lewis Hannam

Chelsea have refused to comment on whether striker Didier Drogba has been fined for throwing a coin into the crowd.

The Ivory Coast international threw the object at Burnley fans after it appeared to be thrown towards him during a Carling Cup game on Wednesday.

Both the Football Association the Metropolitan Police have promised to investigate the incident, but manager Phil Scolari told a press conference he did not know whether the player had been fined by the club, or would be in the future.

He said: "I don't decide. What can I say? It is for the club and for the police - it is not my business."

A club spokesman then told reporters: "Felipe discussed this yesterday, you have seen the quotes.

"It is an on-going investigation, if the FA are going to put a charge in we will wait to see that. We are not going to discuss it further."

Scolari added: "Is what I say important? No. I am not a man that says 'kill' - or 'kill' - I am only the coach."

When asked again whether Drogba had been fined, a club spokesman said: "I am not going to confirm that at this stage.

"We are going to wait and see what the outcome of the investigations is. You will have to talk to the FA to see what their timescale is."

Didier Drogba was today charged with violent conduct by the FA. He has been given until 6pm tonight to respond to the charge before the FA regulatory commission hear the case on November 17.

The FA confirmed that referee Keith Stroud had not seen the incident and only booked Drogba for a gesture he made towards Burnley supporters.