Wenger urges Dean, FA to review Costa actions in Chelsea loss
Arsene Wenger has urged referee Mike Dean and the FA to review Diego Costa’s actions for Chelsea against Arsenal and retrospectively ban the striker.
Costa could face a three-match ban for the incident which saw Arsenal defender Gabriel sent off – but only if Mike Dean does not include Costa’s clashes with Laurent Koscielny in his report on the game.
Arsene Wenger criticized the Spaniard for his actions after the game, while Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised Costa as his personal man of the match.
Wenger has again pleaded with Dean and the FA to review the evidence however, and has called for the striker to be retrospectively banned.
“I would like them, especially Mike Dean, to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision,” said Wenger.
“But you have a fourth official, you have a linesman, the referee and they talk all the game. They know Diego Costa. He is not a newcomer. He was here for a year now. It is surprising.
“I tell you something, if I am a referee and I referee Diego Costa, I do not send somebody off quickly if he responds because you know he has been well provoked.”
The Frenchman also reserved criticism for Gabriel, who was sent off just before half-time for kicking out at Costa.
“We warn them not to get involved, and I don’t understand Gabriel because he usually looks a calm boy,” said Wenger. “For me, it’s not difficult to stay calm. I don’t believe it is. You have to be above [anything that is said]. That’s part of the game. For me, to be professional is to deal with that.
“You can spit in my face and, if it’s in a game, then I will not respond. I do not guarantee that outside of the game. What I mean is that the desire to win has to be above all of that. You stand up to it in a controlled way. We are equipped to respond, but we always have to keep control of our response.”
