Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association on Friday for throwing a coin back into the crowd during a League Cup game against Burnley. TV replays showed Drogba, who had just scored, pick up a coin which had apparently been thrown by a Burnley fan and hurl it back into the crowd during Wednesday's match. The FA said that referee Keith Stroud gave Drogba a yellow card for going toward the Burnley supporters to celebrate but had not seen the missile incident. Drogba has until the end of Friday to respond to the charge and a disciplinary committee will decide on the case Monday. If found guilty, Drogba could be fined or banned for up to three games. The game ended 1-1, and Burnley advanced to the quarterfinals after winning a penalty shootout. Burnley could also face disciplinary action as a result of the coin-throwing incident. Police are also investigating. The FA said players should be able to play football without fear for their personal safety, adding it was unacceptable for them to be put in danger by supporters throwing objects. After the game, Drogba issued a statement through Chelsea apologizing for his actions. “I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me,” he said. “The big mistake I did was to throw it back, so if someone was hurt I just want to apologize for it. This is not something I should show in a football match and I want to apologize. “It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more.” Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was sent off in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal in 2002 after throwing a coin back into the crowd, and later received a three-match ban. Wednesday's incident came a month after a linesman was hit by an object thrown by a fan at an Aston Villa-Portsmouth game although reports said it may have been aimed at one of the Portsmouth management team. A week later, Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton was showered with bottles and coins by Sunderland fans while warming up as a substitute.
