Diego Costa bite: Chelsea deny Spain striker attempted to bite Gareth Barry
The Spain international was captured by television cameras appearing to lean into Barry’s neck
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea have confirmed that striker Diego Costa denies biting Everton’s Gareth Barry during the latter stages of their FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Goodison Park.
The cantankerous Spain international was captured by television cameras appearing to lean into Barry’s neck, opening his mouth, before recoiling and embracing the 35-year-old instead.
Costa was infuriated by an 84th minute challenge by the Toffees midfielder and was dismissed for a second bookable offence for his reaction moments before Barry suffered the same fate for an unrelated indiscretion.
A spokesman for the West London club said: “Diego spoke to club officials after the game and expressed regret over his reaction to the challenge from Gareth 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.”
Both Guss Hiddink and Roberto Martinez, the Chelsea and Everton managers respectively, refused to be drawn on the topic after the match.
“I try to be fair in my judgement, I haven't seen it and it is difficult for me to say yes or no,” said Hiddink. “Without seeing, I don't want to give judgement on this. [He] was chased a bit in the game. They went after him. They knew it. It is within the rules.
“As a referee, you must protect the situation but knowing and feeling the atmosphere - then comes the moment that I would like to give judgement (on) but I haven't seen it.”
Martinez, on the other hand, says he trusts Barry’s judgement after the former Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder shrugged off the altercation.
The Spaniard said: “My interpretation is I don't think it was a key moment. It was an emotional game and rightly so. Diego Costa had a fighting spirit and I would like to praise the referee. The sending-off of Costa was right.
“The sending-off of Gareth Barry was right and the referee never allowed those emotions to stop the fluency. Whatever happens with Diego Costa, I am sure the two players shook it off. From where it was, he moved his head towards Gareth Barry and I lost sight of that action.
“I thought it was a second yellow. It was a moment that didn't have an impact on the scoreline.”
Romelu Lukaku scored both goals, an emphatic solo opener and neat second, to send Everton into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
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