Reflections on fallout from Champions League Semi-Final

As I saw it...

- Ballack man-handled the referee because, in Ballack's opinion, he didn't give a penalty decision in injury time
- Drogba verbally berated the referee and had to be restrained from physically attacking him because he felt he was denied victory by the referee's mistakes
- Drogba told the world he thought the referee was a "f*****g disgrace" by shouting into a TV camera
- after game the Chelsea manager said he understood Drogba's behaviour and the Chelsea captain said he supported Drogba
- the next day Drogba apologised for his behaviour in the press

Some thoughts...
- If Drogba said to the referee after the final whistle what he said to the camera he should have a red, not a yellow
- Drogba sets his own personal standards for his behaviour and for me they are not good enough, can anyone imagine Ryan Giggs behaving like that? or for that matter Tiger Woods, Rafa Nadal, Johnny Wilkinson or Andrew Strauss?
- the club set their standards and they are not good enough either by not condemning Drogba and Ballack's behaviour whatever their emotions, they diminish themselves and the sport
- I think the referee got himself into a mindset of "they are trying to get something from me and I'm not giving them to them", he legitimately turned down 2-3 penalty appeals but then made a bad miss on the Pique incident- that sequence has pretty much already happened to me... the more a team pressures you the worse decisions you make (this can go for or against them)
- I don't believe Drogba's apology, I think he just wants a smaller ban.

The whole thing makes me sad and a little angry.

The referee made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
When Drogba cut inside the last defender and scuffed a weak, left-footed shot at the keeper he made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
What are the consequences for both individuals and the game? The millionaire footballer may sit out a few games, the referee is in hiding I am pretty sure the damage to the game is done and calling a referee a "f****** disgrace" has been further legitimised.