The temperamental forward has been slapped with a suspension after being sent off in Chelsea’s game against Everton, but could face further punishment for his behaviour after receiving the red card.
The high-stakes FA Cup quarter-final between Chelsea and Everton saw Diego Costa get sent off in an absurd fashion, as he appeared to bite Gareth Barry’s neck after being on the receiving end of a late tackle from the Englishman. Incredibly, that was the first red card the Spain international has received in his Chelsea career.
The forward has been handed the customary one-match ban for the dismissal, but his manager Guus Hiddink thinks that the authorities are out to get Diego Costa because of his reputation. The Chelsea manager claims that the FA are looking for an excuse to hand him an extended ban, even though he has been cleared of biting Gareth Barry by the former Manchester City man himself.
“If you cannot prove the bite sometimes, in my opinion, they are looking a bit for where they can chase him. The officials [the FA],” said the Dutchman, according to FourFourTwo.
“He is a bit marked in this. I know it’s difficult. If the player is frequently bit by bit provoked, you [opponents] play a bit with that. It’s part of the game, how far can you get someone out of his comfort zone and into the red zone?
“I have said I cannot guarantee Diego will not explode but I sometimes get the impression they [the authorities] go for him.”
Diego Costa antics a problem for the Blues
The controversial forward has always found himself being criticized for his extremely aggressive style of play. Costa is known to rile up opposition defenders, go nose to nose with players in the middle of the pitch and get up to some underhand tricks to put his opponents ill at ease.
Even though this was his first red card for Chelsea, the striker has already missed several games due to suspension in his Blues’ career. With Atletico Madrid reportedly keen on taking him back, the Blues could consider cashing in and looking for a solution elsewhere in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, after a shoddy start to the season under Jose Mourinho, Costa has returned to from, netting 11 goals in 16 games since the arrival of Guus Hiddink.
