Source: SKY_Sports
Hiddink won't punish Drogba
Guus Hiddink has admitted that Didier Drogba overreacted following Chelsea's UEFA Champions League exit but he is unlikely to discipline the striker internally.
Drogba angrily confronted referee Tom Henning Ovrebo as Chelsea bowed out of Europe on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
He also swore into television cameras, furious that Chelsea had gone out on away goals after having a number of penalty appeals turned down.
Uefa will now study the reports they have received from Ovrebo and the official match delegate before deciding on a course of action next week.
Hiddink hopes Uefa will show some leniency after Drogba apologised for his behaviour.
He told Sky Sports News: "Uefa has the power if there are measures to be taken but I think you have to take into consideration the emotion of the situation and the injustice that was felt
"It is up to them if they want to take measures but when people apologise for their behaviour it is the first step taken towards the normal things of life."
Hiddink defended the Ivory Coast international immediately after the incident and he can still understand why he was so angry
But he accepts that Drogba went too far and feels an apology was necessary.
Big step"At that moment (after the match) I said I could feel the reaction of the players. The way we were eliminated gave this reaction.
"He must not react like he did but I can understand the emotion. Injustice is a very strong emotion to oppose, but not overreaction."
Asked if he would be disciplining Drogba, Hiddink replied: "It is up to me and the board but I don't think so because apologising openly is a big step and we have to go on."
Speculation has mounted in the last couple of days that Drogba could be set to leave the club this summer but Hiddink doubts whether the latest incident will have an impact.
He said: "I don't think there is an influence. It is not up to me."
Hiddink added that he had not spoken to Roman Abramovich about the reaction of the players, with the Russian owner only commenting on Chelsea's performance.
"We have to be proud about the way Chelsea played at home against the best team in the world," Hiddink commented.
"We gave away this late chance but the rest of the time we had good control and had more chances."
