LONDON, Nov 15: Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Didier Drogba shouldn’t be subjected to a public witch-hunt after the controversial Chelsea striker was hit with an FA charge.

Drogba faces a three-match ban for throwing a coin at Burnley supporters during Wednesday’s League Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge.

But Scolari believes Drogba, who is also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police, deserved to be given a chance to make amends for the incident because he was provoked by Burnley fans who bombarded him with missiles as he celebrated his first-half goal in front of the away end.

“Didier didn’t go out on to the pitch to fight, but to play. He didn’t put coins in his pocket. For people, for the police, for the FA, they have to think about this,” Scolari said.

“It wasn’t Didier who started it. He was happy to score a goal. He apologised after the game.

“But I want, now, the police to find out who was the man who threw that.

Which fan threw it. After this, we’ll look at what happens. I’m not a judge. I’m not someone to say kill or not kill. I’m only the coach and I’ll receive the information from the police, the club, the FA,” he added. “Whatever the FA or the police decide, that finishes it.”

Drogba has until Monday to respond to the charge but has little chance of escaping a ban when the case is heard on Tuesday as Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher served a three-match suspension for an identical incident at Arsenal in 2002.

Scolari is only too aware that thugs could try to incite Drogba into similar clashes at Premier League grounds around the country and he pleaded with opposing supporters to set an example to the rest of the world.—AFP