Schalke protest to Uefa over Drogba

Schalke have launched a protest over Didier Drogba’s inclusion in Galatasaray’s line-up for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 match in Istanbul.

The German side got a 1-1 draw in the first leg but have raised questions about the ex-Chelsea striker’s eligibility.

Drogba signed for Galatasaray at the end of January, ending his short stay with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua. The Ivorian agreed to join three days before Uefa’s deadline for registering players for the last 16 of the Champions League. But a contract wrangle with Shenhua meant he did not receive international clearance from Fifa to make his Galatasaray debut until 13 February.

Schalke’s chief financial officer Peter Peters said: “There is the suspicion that he received his eligibility after the end of the deadline to register the player.”