subject: When Didier Drogba Got A Pat On The Head [print this page] I wonder how Drogba is feeling right now knowing that none other Michel Platini has "got his back" months after the incident that saw him getting a three match ban in Europe. If I were in Drogba's boots, I'd sure feel like giving him the same treatment I gave Referee Ovrebo on that fateful night. I really laughed out loud and I am pretty sure Drogba did too. I mean, when the incident occurred, why didn't Platini leap to his defence? Why did he keep mum? Hmmm... maybe he gave the player a private phone call in order to encourage him.
Michel Platini's utterances on this issue amount to an attempt at approbating and reprobating. Listen to him; "I was like Drogba in the past when I saw an injustice as a player". If my understanding serves me right, what Platini is saying here is that there was in fact, injustice done by the center referee on the night.
Earlier on, he had said the TV stations focused on Drogba and not the decisions. He averred that Drogba showed comportment. In other words, Platini believes that Drogba showed comportment in view of the fact that he endured the injustice perpetrated by the referee until the end of the match when the Chelsea lost courtesy of a last minute strike by Barcelona FC. Would Drogba have reacted the same way if they had won the match?
Curiously, Platini later said that he does not know if the referee made a mistake. Hear him again "I don't know whether the referee made a mistake or not" and as a follow up, he says if the referee made a mistake, he (Platini) will not say so since it is his duty to protect the referees. Hmm... approbating and reprobating again.
Anyway, Platini's intention was to provide solace for Drogba as he returns to Europe following his three match ban after the famous fiasco with referee Ovrebo during the semi finals of last season's Champion's League. I just think he ended up opening his mouth too wide and has allowed room for interpretation of his comments.
I must say that I appreciate Platini's efforts at getting Drogba settled for the rest of this Champions League season but then, he ought to know that such public statements are bound to be scrutinised and looked at from many angles.
It comes down to this; Platini either believes that Drogba's actions were right even though he later apologised but could not say so at that material time or he is just trying to get on the good side of the player. Either way, I would be wary of such statements if I were Drogba.
