INQUIRER Sports

LONDON -- Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was banned for three games by the Football Association (FA) here Tuesday.

The Ivory Coast international's suspension came after he admitted a charge of violent conduct for throwing a coin back into the crowd at Stamford Bridge during last Wednesday's League Cup defeat against Burnley.

Drogba will serve the suspension with immediate effect.

That means he will miss the Premier League leaders' match at home to Newcastle this Saturday, the London derby against Arsenal on November 30 and the match away to Bolton on December 6.

Drogba, who was shown a yellow card for his actions, said after the match: "There is something I want to make clear. I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me.

"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."

The incident that saw Drogba banned happened after he'd scored the opening goal in the fourth round tie. He also appeared to make an obscene gesture at the away fans.

That goal against Burnley was Drogba's first of a season where a knee injury has restricted him to just five league appearances.

Burnley, who play in English football's second-tier Championship, went on to equalize 20 minutes from time and then pulled off a shock win, 5-4 on penalties after extra-time.