Chelsea star Diego Costa should, ideally get hit with a match ban from the Football Association this upcoming week, due to his entanglement with Liverpool Defender Martin Skrtel. In this photo, it looks like Costa literally “kicked him when he’s down.” Although the referee missed this, and hence no punitive action was taken, it appears Costa kicked Skrtel in the chest.
Liverpool went on to win 3-1.
Even though Costa should have been reprimanded, and still could be, one former referee, and therefore, an expert in situations such as this, Howard Webb thinks he’ll escape unpunished here. Webb told BT Sport:
“They [The FA] will have a look I think. I think it is a clear red card. He commits a foul on Martin Skrtel, then there is a little kick.
“The second action is a clear act of violent conduct. Mark Clattenburg (who officiated this match) is pretty close and is in a good position and it’s difficult to say that he hasn’t seen this.
“Normally the FA won’t take action when the ref is looking at it. But just because he is looking in that direction it doesn’t mean he is focussed on that act of violence, and he can’t have been because he didn’t see the kick and didn’t give a red card.
“I doubt that the FA will take action because Mark is looking in that direction and it is not off the ball. But it is a clear red card and Diego Costa is a lucky boy on that occasion.”
So we’ll see if the FA Regulatory Commission decides to suspend Diego Costa (a four match ban could happen), or if he emerges from this unscathed. Costa was just suspended by the FA on September 22nd for an incident in the Arsenal clash.
You can take a look at footage of Costa’s previous malfeasance at this link. Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho, defended Costa’s actions back then, even going so far as to declare him the real “man of the match.”
Mourinho was asked about yesterday’s incident in the post game press conference, but refused comment.
The less than sportsman like actions of Diego Costa were again a trending topic one in the international football world this past weekend. Of course, it wasn’t the “A Block” story pertaining to Chelsea though. That spot is reserved for Jose Mourinho sacking watch, and the potential for Carlo Ancelotti to replace him, even if it’s in the interim.
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