Drogba apologises publicly to Frisk
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-21 14:37

Chelsea's Didier Drogba has made a public apology to Anders Frisk who quit refereeing over death threats following incidents in the Champions League match at Barcelona last month. "I would like to apologise to Mr Frisk, if I might have, in any way, prompted him to end his refereeing career."

(L-R) Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and top referee Anders Frisk. The row triggered by Frisk's retirement from football escalated as UEFA scheduled emergency talks on Chelsea's role in the Swedish official's decision to quit the game. Chelsea's striker Drogba has made a public apology to Frisk, hoping he will reture to his refereeing career. [AFP]

Striker Drogba was talking to French television channel TF1 on Sunday.

"I really hope he will change his mind. Soccer needs great referees and Mr Frisk is one of them.

"Everyone makes mistakes and referees are human, we have to accept that", he added.

Chelsea's head coach Jose Mourinho said his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard had talked to Frisk at halftime in the match, the first leg of the teams' first knockout round tie at the Nou Camp on February 23.

Drogba was sent off early in the second half for a second bookable offence and Chelsea boycotted the post-match news conference.

Chelsea won the second leg 4-2 in London on March 8 to claim a place in the quarter-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory.

Frisk announced he was retiring four days after the second leg, saying he and his family had received death threats.

The Swede said on Saturday he would not go back on his decision despite efforts by ruling bodies UEFA and FIFA to persuade him to change his mind.