Diego Costa has been handed a three match ban shortly after the Football Association lifted Gabriel’s ban.
Following the Chelsea vs Arsenal match played on Saturday, both clubs had been fined for not being able to control their players on the pitch. Controversy broke out after a clash with Costa and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny that lead to Costa also being charged for the incident.
In an incident that appeared to show Gabriel treading on Costa’s toes later on, Gabriel was sent off and escorted off the pitch. Today the FA announced that Gabriel’s sending off had been scrapped and the Brazilian escaped without a three-match ban.
Costa and Chelsea accepted the charges and in front of a panel of ex referees, they awarded the same ban given to receivers of a straight red card. The panel agreed to it being a red card offence after the match officials missed the incident. Having looked at the video footage they decided to give the ban.
On twitter fans were quick to voice angered responses from both sides of the argument:
I’m confused. So now Gabriel didn’t kick Diego Costa? Or are the FA saying it was justified because of who he kicked? What an odd move.
— Adam Digby (@Adz77) September 22, 2015
Gabriel ban lifted. Diego Costa banned. Eva Carneiro leaves. Poetic justice.
— Fouad AFC (@FouadAFC) September 22, 2015
So happy to learn that Costa is suspended for three matches. Deserved.
— Brian E. Denton (@sportswithbrian) September 22, 2015
They suspended Diego Costa once again. 3 match ban… Not happy about this! #Mourinho should calm Costa or show him the door! #Chelsea
— Cristian Stef (@CristianStef1) September 22, 2015
Diego Costa will now miss Chelsea’s matches against Walsall in the Capital One Cup, Newcastle in the league and FC Porto in the Champions League.
This comes as another blow to Chelsea after Kurt Zouma was forced to make a public apology after his post-match conference. The French international unintentionally called Costa a “cheat”.
“Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponents out of his game, and that happened in the game,” Zouma told beIN Sports.
Chelsea’s victory has meant the club gained their first clean sheet of the league campaign and the club moves up to mid-table.
