London, May 10 : Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink has appealed to club owner Roman Abramovich not to hit Didier Drogba with a heavy punishment for his hounding of Champions League referee Tom Henning Ovrebo.

Chelsea have already decided to make the controversial Drogba available this summer, if the right offer comes in, after his antics at the end of their Champions League semi-final defeat against Barcelona, The Daily Express reports.

But Hiddink, set to rest Drogba for London derby with Arsenal because he does not believe his key striker is mentally ready, is adamant he should not also be handed a club fine.

Drogba, Michael Ballack and Chelsea themselves will next week almost certainly be given hefty UEFA bans and fines for their angry protests to Ovrebo on Wednesday, after he denied them at least two clear penalties.

Hiddink does not want Drogba further disillusioned by internal measures when he needs him firing on all cylinders for Chelsea’s last chance of honours in the FA Cup final against Everton on May 30.

That is set to be the final game at the club for both, with Hiddink returning to Russia and Marseille desperate to bring Drogba back.

Hiddink said: “It is up to me and the board whether he is disciplined or not, but I don’t think so. He has already apologised publicly, and that is a big step. We have to move on. His future is not up to me.” (ANI)