Drogba handed three-match suspension for coin throwing

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-19 11:20

LONDON -- Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been handed a three-match suspension on Tuesday for throwing back a coin at Burnley fans during last week's League Cup.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba (C) looks at the ball during Champions League soccer match against CFR Cluj in Cluj, 450 km (280 miles) northwest of Bucharest, October 1, 2008. [Agencies]

The immediately effective ban will rule the 30-year-old Cote d'Ivoire player out of Premier League matches against Newcastle United, Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers.

"Drogba admitted a charge of violent conduct," said an FA statement. "The charge related to Drogba throwing a missile into the away section of the crowd after scoring during the League Cup match."

Drogba flinged a coin back into the crowd during Chelsea's shock defeat to second-tier Burnley on penalties in the League Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge last week.

He admitted Monday the Football Association charge of violent conduct while police probed the incident, but said he had been targeted by missiles thrown from an area containing Burnley fans.