Drogba back at Bridge!

MARTIN SAMUEL IS AWAY

CHELSEA legend Didier Drogba will make an emotional playing return to Stamford Bridge this summer for Soccer Aid.

The Blues hero, 41, who won 12 major honours with the club, is set to be confirmed to play in the annual charity match, scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 16.

Drogba, scorer of 164 Chelsea goals, is sure to receive a hero’s reception when he plays for the Rest of the World against England. The former Ivory Coast striker’s participation will involve a joint venture between charity UNICEF and the Didier Drogba Foundation. Recently, Drogba’s foundation has helped pay for a new mobile heart clinic and opened a new school with state of the art computer facilities.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s appeal against their transfer ban is due to be held next month.

And defender Andreas Christensen has claimed senior players have been told they cannot leave if FIFA’s decision stands.

FIFA yesterday confirmed Thursday April 11 for the hearing — the same day as Chelsea’s Europa League quarter-final first leg with Slavia Prague.

‘ The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept,’ centre back Andreas Christensen told Ekstra Bladet in Denmark. ‘ The messages we have received are that Chelsea cannot appeal the case and therefore want to keep all the players.’

Chelsea were handed a two-window block on signing players and fined £460,000 by FIFA.