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UEFA rejects Schalke protest against Drogba

Published: February 27, 2013 Comment on this article

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has ruled that Didier Drogba was eligible to play for Galatasaray in the Champions League last-16 round last week.

photo - FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2013 file picture Galatasaray's Didier Drogba reacts during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match against FC Schalke 04 at the TT Arena Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Schalke will lodge a complaint with UEFA over the 1-1 draw at Galatasaray in the Champions League because of Didier Drogba's participation. "There are doubts over the valid eligibility for Drogba in the Champions League. Schalke reserves its rights and is looking into this," the club said in a tweet on Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo,str,File)

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2013 file picture Galatasaray's Didier Drogba reacts during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match against FC Schalke 04 at the TT Arena Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Schalke will lodge a complaint with UEFA over the 1-1 draw at Galatasaray in the Champions League because of Didier Drogba's participation. "There are doubts over the valid eligibility for Drogba in the Champions League. Schalke reserves its rights and is looking into this," the club said in a tweet on Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo,str,File)

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UEFA says its disciplinary panel dismissed Schalke's protest lodged after the Ivory Coast forward played in a 1-1 draw in Istanbul last week. Clubs fielding ineligible players risk forfeiting matches.

Schalke questioned Drogba's status following his January transfer to Turkey from Shanghai Shenhua.

The Chinese club has filed a breach of contract complaint with FIFA. Drobga claims his salary was not being paid.

FIFA provisionally cleared Drogba to play while its legal department studies the case.

UEFA registered Drogba on a Champions League squad list which Galatasaray submitted by a Feb. 1 deadline.

Schalke hosts Galatasaray in the return match on March 12.