Didier Drogba has apologised to referee Anders Frisk, who quit after receiving death threats following Chelsea's Champions League tie with Barcelona.
Drogba was sent off in the first leg of the last 16 clash at the Nou Camp, a game which Barcelona won 2-1.
"I'd like to apologise to Mr Frisk if I might have prompted him to end his refereeing career," the Ivory Coast striker told French TV station TF1.
"I hope he changes his mind. Soccer needs great referees and he is one."
Drogba added: "Everyone makes mistakes and referees are human. We have to accept that."
"We all have a responsibility to calm this down, come back to normal and treat each other in a fair way"
Despite efforts by ruling bodies Uefa and Fifa to persuade him to change his mind, Sweden's Frisk says he will not go back on his decision to quit.
Meanwhile, Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson has stressed his determination to eradicate the blame culture and also stamp out unsporting behaviour off the pitch between clubs.
"There has been a general trend of criticism, not just between officials and representatives from clubs, but also from club managers," Olsson told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"It seems some people are trying to move the competition from the pitch to the fencing before matches. I don't appreciate that at all.
"I am not aiming these comments at any individual but Jose Mourinho's remark in Barcelona was not very clever.
"We all have a responsibility to calm this down, come back to normal and treat each other in a fair way.
"People have to remember they are role models and fair play is part of the game."