Chelsea lost 2-0 to Everton in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at Goodison Park, but it was a clash between Blues forward, Diego Costa and Toffees midfielder, Gareth Barry that got many tongues wagging.
The feisty Costa leaned into Gareth Barry and appeared to bite him, getting himself a second yellow card in the game and the inevitable red card.
However, the combative Barry was himself sent off in the 87th minute, three minutes after Costa, also for a second bookable offence.
While social media was agog with condemnation for Costa’s action throughout the evening, the Spaniard has told club officials categorically that he did not bite the 35-year-old.
He also apologised for the action which got him sent off from the game, putting the Stamford Bridge side a man behind for three minutes, with them trailing by two goals thanks to a Romelu Lukaku brace.
According to a Chelsea spokesman: “Diego spoke to club officials and expressed regret over his reaction to the challenge from Barry that led to his red card.
“But Diego was also very clear that he did not bite him at any point during that altercation.”