Diego Costa set for ban between four and eight games
The Atletico forward was sent off against Barca for insulting the referee
Diego Costa is facing a ban of anywhere between four and eight games after being sent off in Atletico Madrid's 2-0 loss to Barcelona at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Costa was sent off in the first half after saying something to referee Gil Manzano. The official later explained in his report that: "In the 28th minute the player Diego Da Silva Costa was sent off for the following motive: he shouted loudly at me the following words: 'ME CAGO EN TU PUTA MADRE!!, ¡¡ME CAGO EN TU PUTA MADRE!!.' ['I S**T ON YOUR W***E MOTHER, I S**T ON YOUR W***E MOTHER]."
Article 94 of the Competition's regulations explain that the punishment for being dismissed for said violation is a suspension of a minimum of four games and a maximum of eight.
Costa was sent off in the first half while the score was goalless. Barça went on to win the game thanks to goals in the final five minutes from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. The win moved the Catalans eight clear of second place Atletico by 11 points with just seven games to play.
