Ban Drogba and yobs will win, says Lampard

Losing his cool: Didier Drogba has been charged with violent conduct after he threw a coin into the crowd at Stamford Bridge

Andrew Hodgson

13 April 2012

Frank Lampard today urged the Football Association to show Didier Drogba some leniency after the striker was charged with violent conduct for throwing a coin into the crowd on Wednesday.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard is worried that if the charge is followed by a ban, fans will copy the incident at Stamford Bridge in the hope of provoking another player.

Drogba faces a three-match suspension and is also under investigation from the police after he threw a coin back at Burnley fans and made a middle fingered salute after he scored in the Carling Cup defeat. The Ivory Coast international, who manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said will still be part of the squad that travel to West Brom tomorrow, issued an immediate post-match apology but now has 14 days to respond to the charge.

Jamie Carragher was handed a three-match ban when he was red-carded for a similar offence in 2002 yet Lampard has urged the FA to punish the fans and not the player.

"There are two sides to it," he said. "There's been a reaction, a human reaction, which Jamie Carragher made once.

"He's come out straight away and said he's made a mistake.

"People also have got to stop throwing things on the pitch. I was around Didier at the time and I don't know how many coins there were around."

The FA have also written to Burnley to request information on missiles thrown at Chelsea players from the away end and Lampard said that he sometimes fears for his own safety.

He added: "If Didier gets banned, are fans going to do this more to provoke people? Who knows?

"I take quite a lot of corners and it's not unusual to get things thrown at you and lots of abuse and I think it's got to a stage now where it's got to stop.

"We've seen referees getting hit, too, so I think people have to take responsibility as a group.

"Didier has to take responsibility as an individual. I hope he doesn't get banned, but it's up to the FA."

Scolari confirmed he won't take Drogba out of the firing line against West Brom tomorrow despite being almost certain to face more provocation from a hostile crowd at the Hawthorns.

He said: "Didier is very good. He is in good condition. He can play this weekend. After three or four months, he's ready. He's starting to play.

"What would I say? Nothing. For the club, for the police, it's not my business."

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