Drogba gets three-match ban

London:

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has received a three-match ban for throwing a coin into the crowd in a Carling Cup match last week.

The 30-year-old picked up a coin that had been thrown at him from a section of the Burnley fans and hurled it back into the crowd. After the match, which Chelsea lost, Drogba admitted an Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct.

"Players should be able to play football without fearing for their personal safety," an FA spokesman said Tuesday.

"It is totally unacceptable for players to be put in danger by supporters throwing missiles onto the pitch. The FA wants anyone found guilty of throwing missiles to face the strongest possible action. That includes life bans from attending football matches."

Drogba's ban matches the three-match suspension given to Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for a similar offence in 2002.