Diego Costa: Biggest punishment since Pepe in 2009
The Atletico forward was hit with an eight match ban for swearing and grabbing at the official
Diego Costa's eight match ban is one of the highest in Spanish football and the biggest ban since Pepe was hit with a 10 match punishment in 2009.
Costa was given four games for insulting referee Jesus Gil Manzano and another four for grabbing him after being sent off.
Former Real Madrid player Pepe was hit with a big ban after attacking Getafe player Javier Casquero.
That was the biggest ban sicne the 1964-65 season when Zaragoza defender Joaquín Cortizo was issued a 24 match ban for a tough tackle on Atletico Madrid's Enrique Collar, which gave him a broken leg.
In 1974 Granada's Paraguayan defender Pedro Fernandez was hit with a 15 match ban for a foul on Madrid's Amancio in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
Andoni Goikoetxea was punished with 18 matches for hacking Diego Maradona in 1983 at San Mames but it was later reduced to seven.
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