The on topic thread

[Magma]

6 games for dembele

 

[go you pups]

Spurs likely to contest length of ban according to some on Twitter


Either way, he will miss the start of next season in some capacity

 

[chef]

6 games is right for mine, dog act. Eye gouging aint a pretty look and can do some serious damage.

 

[Hawkforce]

6 games is right for mine, dog act. Eye gouging aint a pretty look and can do some serious damage.

Not sure if you're trolling but most ex-players I've heard talk about it think it's a ridiculously harsh penalty and think actions like Fellaini's elbow are much much worse to receive as a player.

For myself I hate eye-gouging and think it needs to be stamped out. Having said that - it's unclear whether Dembele even does make any real contact with the eye and he certainly didn't cause Costa any harm. It was the equivalent of the "leaning in with your head" type headbutt- stupid and automatic 3 match ban but hardly comparable to, say, Zidane's headbutt.

Okay, so they want to make a statement - yet Fernando Torres was allowed to gauge Vertonghen to such an extent he left bloody scratch marks down his cheek. No ban.. No "making a statement". Costa himself has had his fingers dangerously close to eyes - no ban. No statement. There have been numerous incidents as bad or worse than Dembele's - no six match "statements".

But a guy who has only ever been sent off once in his UK playing career - no history of dirty or violent play - does one single act of stupidity that causes no damage beyond making Diego Costa flinch and he gets hit with a ban unprecedented for this type of offence.


Fair enough. Statement made. Stamp it out. Good.


Now be consistent.

 

[Firestarter]

Collapsed during a game. Devastating.

Only 26 too. RIP.

 

[Hawkforce]

Collapsed during a game. Devastating.

Only 26 too. RIP.

Hate that. Was at White Hart Lane the night the Bolton played had the heart attack

 

[jod23]

6 matches is fair. Eye gouging is dirty as ****.

 

[chef]

Not sure if you're trolling but most ex-players I've heard talk about it think it's a ridiculously harsh penalty and think actions like Fellaini's elbow are much much worse to receive as a player.

For myself I hate eye-gouging and think it needs to be stamped out. Having said that - it's unclear whether Dembele even does make any real contact with the eye and he certainly didn't cause Costa any harm. It was the equivalent of the "leaning in with your head" type headbutt- stupid and automatic 3 match ban but hardly comparable to, say, Zidane's headbutt.

Okay, so they want to make a statement - yet Fernando Torres was allowed to gauge Vertonghen to such an extent he left bloody scratch marks down his cheek. No ban.. No "making a statement". Costa himself has had his fingers dangerously close to eyes - no ban. No statement. There have been numerous incidents as bad or worse than Dembele's - no six match "statements".

But a guy who has only ever been sent off once in his UK playing career - no history of dirty or violent play - does one single act of stupidity that causes no damage beyond making Diego Costa flinch and he gets hit with a ban unprecedented for this type of offence.


Fair enough. Statement made. Stamp it out. Good.


Now be consistent.

No troll.

I agree about them being consistent, my teams players have gotten away with shit in the past as have your teams players.

It does need to be stamped out. Not sure you can say an elbow is worse than an eye gouge, both shit acts that can cause severe damage.

 

[WealstoneRaider]

Don't think we can argue with a six game ban for that (I was fearing ten) but we can feel aggrieved in consistencies. I hope this is a benchmark and any further acts of aggression will be dealt with in the same manner. I just wonder what Costa did or said to provoke that reaction although I have an idea

 

[jod23]

So he will miss Spurs' remaining two league games and then the their first four games of next season right? Perhaps one League Cup fixture?

 

[WealstoneRaider]

I think they will all be league games. We won't be in the League Cup until round three like all clubs who are in Europe.

 

[go you pups]

Collapsed during a game. Devastating.

Only 26 too. RIP.

RIP Ekeng

Yeah like what Hawkforce said, I was watching that FA Cup game (on telly IIRC) and twas shocking seeing Muamba face down, never seen it happen before in a game live or on TV

 

[Hawkforce]

No troll.
. Not sure you can say an elbow is worse than an eye gouge, both shit acts that can cause severe damage.

I didn't. Ex-players did.

I just find it staggering that Dembele gets 6 matches when Torres left bloody scratch marks on Vertonghen with no penalty at all. And I don't recall any Chelsea fans being disgusted by Torres' act and calling for his head.

Dembele is paying the price for the scenes last Monday. Somebody needs to be punished extravagantly to show "action" and Spurs have been universally cast as the bad guys - so easy decision.

Fair enough. A marker has been laid down. Now they have to stick to it.

But I can't help but feel it's the FA and Premier League that should be in the dock. When Hazard and Fabregas came out and said they wanted Leicester to win the league (and Spurs not) - when they were still to play both sides - the League should have immediately reprimanded both players and their club and stamped out any further such speculation/tribalism.

They didn't. So other Chelsea players got in on the act. Even after the West Brom result meant Chelsea could end Spurs mathematical challenge. Even then Chelsea players were allowed to openly state their preferred winner between two sides they were still to play. And still nobody stepped in to insist players and clubs conduct themselves as professionals.

All of this led to a poisonous and volatile atmosphere that was apparent from kick off. A poison that could and should have been dealt with the moment Fabregas opened his mouth on Sky - and absolutely should have been addressed when Hazard made his comments on the BBC - was instead left to fester until match day where it was obvious it was a powder keg. Chelsea players were fighting harder than they had all season; Spurs players were leaving unnecessary feet in (Walker) and, even when Spurs went 0-2 up by playing the far better football, the poisonous atmosphere was more important than the scoreline. There was genuine hatred out on that field - a hatred fuelled by the unregulated and unchecked collapse of Professionalism in the build up.

First Fabregas can hope Leicester win the title; then Hazard, then Begovic - all of them still to PLAY the team they have just nominated as preferred winners. HOw do you imagine the Spurs team feels watching this? These vastly rich scions of a Russian billionaire who have done **** all for the entire season are openly stating they will make ending Eric Dier's title dreams their ****ing Cup Final.

And the League just lets them get away with it. Nobody says "Hey this is unprofessional." Nobody says "Any suggestion that Team A tries harder against Team B rather than TEAM C will be investigated". Nothing. Nothing was done to curtail the impression that Chelsea players were free to choose their winner out of two teams they were still to play.

The game on Monday was personal. It was personal; it was poisonous and it ended exactly how it was destined to end - two tribes still fighting and squabbling as they left the field. Forgotten is the fact that Spurs played Chelsea off the park in the first half. Forgotten is all the missed cards Clattenburg should have given Chelsea players early on to establish control. All of this is forgotten because this was engineered to be a spiteful clash and that's exactly what happened. Even 0-2 up Spurs players were incensed - more full of hatred for their opponents than fully concentrating on the lead they'd established by being the better football side. So when Chelsea, comprehensively outplayed in football, seek to engender confrontation, Spurs rush in, in a way they haven't all season, because they are full of hate for a team who has been allowed to openly barrack.


Does any of this excuse Dembele eye-gouging? No. Of course not.

But when everyone is finished kicking this young Spurs side to death, perhaps a moment of reflection for how the context was allowed to build towards this game.

Neither SPurs, Chelsea or the Powers THat Be come out of this looking good. Only one team will suffer though.

 

[chef]

I didn't. Ex-players did.

I just find it staggering that Dembele gets 6 matches when Torres left bloody scratch marks on Vertonghen with no penalty at all. And I don't recall any Chelsea fans being disgusted by Torres' act and calling for his head.

Dembele is paying the price for the scenes last Monday. Somebody needs to be punished extravagantly to show "action" and Spurs have been universally cast as the bad guys - so easy decision.

Fair enough. A marker has been laid down. Now they have to stick to it.

But I can't help but feel it's the FA and Premier League that should be in the dock. When Hazard and Fabregas came out and said they wanted Leicester to win the league (and Spurs not) - when they were still to play both sides - the League should have immediately reprimanded both players and their club and stamped out any further such speculation/tribalism.

They didn't. So other Chelsea players got in on the act. Even after the West Brom result meant Chelsea could end Spurs mathematical challenge. Even then Chelsea players were allowed to openly state their preferred winner between two sides they were still to play. And still nobody stepped in to insist players and clubs conduct themselves as professionals.

All of this led to a poisonous and volatile atmosphere that was apparent from kick off. A poison that could and should have been dealt with the moment Fabregas opened his mouth on Sky - and absolutely should have been addressed when Hazard made his comments on the BBC - was instead left to fester until match day where it was obvious it was a powder keg. Chelsea players were fighting harder than they had all season; Spurs players were leaving unnecessary feet in (Walker) and, even when Spurs went 0-2 up by playing the far better football, the poisonous atmosphere was more important than the scoreline. There was genuine hatred out on that field - a hatred fuelled by the unregulated and unchecked collapse of Professionalism in the build up.

First Fabregas can hope Leicester win the title; then Hazard, then Begovic - all of them still to PLAY the team they have just nominated as preferred winners. HOw do you imagine the Spurs team feels watching this? These vastly rich scions of a Russian billionaire who have done **** all for the entire season are openly stating they will make ending Eric Dier's title dreams their ******* Cup Final.

And the League just lets them get away with it. Nobody says "Hey this is unprofessional." Nobody says "Any suggestion that Team A tries harder against Team B rather than TEAM C will be investigated". Nothing. Nothing was done to curtail the impression that Chelsea players were free to choose their winner out of two teams they were still to play.

The game on Monday was personal. It was personal; it was poisonous and it ended exactly how it was destined to end - two tribes still fighting and squabbling as they left the field. Forgotten is the fact that Spurs played Chelsea off the park in the first half. Forgotten is all the missed cards Clattenburg should have given Chelsea players early on to establish control. All of this is forgotten because this was engineered to be a spiteful clash and that's exactly what happened. Even 0-2 up Spurs players were incensed - more full of hatred for their opponents than fully concentrating on the lead they'd established by being the better football side. So when Chelsea, comprehensively outplayed in football, seek to engender confrontation, Spurs rush in, in a way they haven't all season, because they are full of hate for a team who has been allowed to openly barrack.


Does any of this excuse Dembele eye-gouging? No. Of course not.

But when everyone is finished kicking this young Spurs side to death, perhaps a moment of reflection for how the context was allowed to build towards this game.

Neither SPurs, Chelsea or the Powers THat Be come out of this looking good. Only one team will suffer though.

Thats an interesting take on it all, would be interesting to get neutrals opinions on it all.

 

[WealstoneRaider]

I didn't. Ex-players did.

I just find it staggering that Dembele gets 6 matches when Torres left bloody scratch marks on Vertonghen with no penalty at all. And I don't recall any Chelsea fans being disgusted by Torres' act and calling for his head.

Dembele is paying the price for the scenes last Monday. Somebody needs to be punished extravagantly to show "action" and Spurs have been universally cast as the bad guys - so easy decision.

Fair enough. A marker has been laid down. Now they have to stick to it.

But I can't help but feel it's the FA and Premier League that should be in the dock. When Hazard and Fabregas came out and said they wanted Leicester to win the league (and Spurs not) - when they were still to play both sides - the League should have immediately reprimanded both players and their club and stamped out any further such speculation/tribalism.

They didn't. So other Chelsea players got in on the act. Even after the West Brom result meant Chelsea could end Spurs mathematical challenge. Even then Chelsea players were allowed to openly state their preferred winner between two sides they were still to play. And still nobody stepped in to insist players and clubs conduct themselves as professionals.

All of this led to a poisonous and volatile atmosphere that was apparent from kick off. A poison that could and should have been dealt with the moment Fabregas opened his mouth on Sky - and absolutely should have been addressed when Hazard made his comments on the BBC - was instead left to fester until match day where it was obvious it was a powder keg. Chelsea players were fighting harder than they had all season; Spurs players were leaving unnecessary feet in (Walker) and, even when Spurs went 0-2 up by playing the far better football, the poisonous atmosphere was more important than the scoreline. There was genuine hatred out on that field - a hatred fuelled by the unregulated and unchecked collapse of Professionalism in the build up.

First Fabregas can hope Leicester win the title; then Hazard, then Begovic - all of them still to PLAY the team they have just nominated as preferred winners. HOw do you imagine the Spurs team feels watching this? These vastly rich scions of a Russian billionaire who have done **** all for the entire season are openly stating they will make ending Eric Dier's title dreams their ******* Cup Final.

And the League just lets them get away with it. Nobody says "Hey this is unprofessional." Nobody says "Any suggestion that Team A tries harder against Team B rather than TEAM C will be investigated". Nothing. Nothing was done to curtail the impression that Chelsea players were free to choose their winner out of two teams they were still to play.

The game on Monday was personal. It was personal; it was poisonous and it ended exactly how it was destined to end - two tribes still fighting and squabbling as they left the field. Forgotten is the fact that Spurs played Chelsea off the park in the first half. Forgotten is all the missed cards Clattenburg should have given Chelsea players early on to establish control. All of this is forgotten because this was engineered to be a spiteful clash and that's exactly what happened. Even 0-2 up Spurs players were incensed - more full of hatred for their opponents than fully concentrating on the lead they'd established by being the better football side. So when Chelsea, comprehensively outplayed in football, seek to engender confrontation, Spurs rush in, in a way they haven't all season, because they are full of hate for a team who has been allowed to openly barrack.


Does any of this excuse Dembele eye-gouging? No. Of course not.

But when everyone is finished kicking this young Spurs side to death, perhaps a moment of reflection for how the context was allowed to build towards this game.

Neither SPurs, Chelsea or the Powers THat Be come out of this looking good. Only one team will suffer though.

Sensational post.

Completely nailed it

 

[Shoei]

Thats an interesting take on it all, would interesting to get neutrals opinions on it all.

Can't have neutral opinions on it, not around these parts.

 

[WealstoneRaider]

Is anyone neutral around here when it come to Spurs?

Hawkforce you should cater that post and fire it off to the FA and the club.

 

[Thistle]

I didn't. Ex-players did.

I just find it staggering that Dembele gets 6 matches when Torres left bloody scratch marks on Vertonghen with no penalty at all. And I don't recall any Chelsea fans being disgusted by Torres' act and calling for his head.

Dembele is paying the price for the scenes last Monday. Somebody needs to be punished extravagantly to show "action" and Spurs have been universally cast as the bad guys - so easy decision.

Fair enough. A marker has been laid down. Now they have to stick to it.

But I can't help but feel it's the FA and Premier League that should be in the dock. When Hazard and Fabregas came out and said they wanted Leicester to win the league (and Spurs not) - when they were still to play both sides - the League should have immediately reprimanded both players and their club and stamped out any further such speculation/tribalism.

They didn't. So other Chelsea players got in on the act. Even after the West Brom result meant Chelsea could end Spurs mathematical challenge. Even then Chelsea players were allowed to openly state their preferred winner between two sides they were still to play. And still nobody stepped in to insist players and clubs conduct themselves as professionals.

All of this led to a poisonous and volatile atmosphere that was apparent from kick off. A poison that could and should have been dealt with the moment Fabregas opened his mouth on Sky - and absolutely should have been addressed when Hazard made his comments on the BBC - was instead left to fester until match day where it was obvious it was a powder keg. Chelsea players were fighting harder than they had all season; Spurs players were leaving unnecessary feet in (Walker) and, even when Spurs went 0-2 up by playing the far better football, the poisonous atmosphere was more important than the scoreline. There was genuine hatred out on that field - a hatred fuelled by the unregulated and unchecked collapse of Professionalism in the build up.

First Fabregas can hope Leicester win the title; then Hazard, then Begovic - all of them still to PLAY the team they have just nominated as preferred winners. HOw do you imagine the Spurs team feels watching this? These vastly rich scions of a Russian billionaire who have done **** all for the entire season are openly stating they will make ending Eric Dier's title dreams their ******* Cup Final.

And the League just lets them get away with it. Nobody says "Hey this is unprofessional." Nobody says "Any suggestion that Team A tries harder against Team B rather than TEAM C will be investigated". Nothing. Nothing was done to curtail the impression that Chelsea players were free to choose their winner out of two teams they were still to play.

The game on Monday was personal. It was personal; it was poisonous and it ended exactly how it was destined to end - two tribes still fighting and squabbling as they left the field. Forgotten is the fact that Spurs played Chelsea off the park in the first half. Forgotten is all the missed cards Clattenburg should have given Chelsea players early on to establish control. All of this is forgotten because this was engineered to be a spiteful clash and that's exactly what happened. Even 0-2 up Spurs players were incensed - more full of hatred for their opponents than fully concentrating on the lead they'd established by being the better football side. So when Chelsea, comprehensively outplayed in football, seek to engender confrontation, Spurs rush in, in a way they haven't all season, because they are full of hate for a team who has been allowed to openly barrack.


Does any of this excuse Dembele eye-gouging? No. Of course not.

But when everyone is finished kicking this young Spurs side to death, perhaps a moment of reflection for how the context was allowed to build towards this game.

Neither SPurs, Chelsea or the Powers THat Be come out of this looking good. Only one team will suffer though.

Oh I get it, Spurs aren't too blame, it was Chelsea's fault we got hacked because a couple of players said they would prefer someone other than one of their main rivals to lift the title. Shame on us for trying to beat you.

 

[Cruyff14]

Dembele was rightly punished for the gouge, I don't think even the most one-eyed Spurs supporters could deny it. However, I think they have every right to feel aggrieved that they are making an example out of him, when similar things have happened before (ironically involving Chelsea) yet there has been minimal action taken.

Let's note that none of the below actions were punished, aside from Dembele.

At the time of the Koscielny/Costa incident everyone was up in arms over his actions - and rightly so. But from memory (happy to be proven wrong), he was not even booked thus meaning he escaped punishment. He virtually slapped Koscielny and you can see there is intent to go for his eyes in the image above. Where was the punishment for Costa?

What about the gouge on Skrtel? Did anything eventuate from that? (I don't even remember it occurring to be honest).

And Torres on Vertonghen? While it may not be as bad, it can still be considered violent conduct and I think any contact made around the face should be an automatic red card.

A bit rich of Chelsea supporters to be playing the victim card, their players have hardly been saints over the years. Fabregas did the old nut tap apparently which started things after the game. Are Chelsea fans going to condemn his behaviour and call for him to be punished retrospectively?

 

[Zidane98]

A Spurs - Chelsea shitfight. Pretty soon chef will be starting a thread just for it

 

[ADL9798]

I didn't. Ex-players did.

I just find it staggering that Dembele gets 6 matches when Torres left bloody scratch marks on Vertonghen with no penalty at all. And I don't recall any Chelsea fans being disgusted by Torres' act and calling for his head.

Dembele is paying the price for the scenes last Monday. Somebody needs to be punished extravagantly to show "action" and Spurs have been universally cast as the bad guys - so easy decision.

Fair enough. A marker has been laid down. Now they have to stick to it.

But I can't help but feel it's the FA and Premier League that should be in the dock. When Hazard and Fabregas came out and said they wanted Leicester to win the league (and Spurs not) - when they were still to play both sides - the League should have immediately reprimanded both players and their club and stamped out any further such speculation/tribalism.

They didn't. So other Chelsea players got in on the act. Even after the West Brom result meant Chelsea could end Spurs mathematical challenge. Even then Chelsea players were allowed to openly state their preferred winner between two sides they were still to play. And still nobody stepped in to insist players and clubs conduct themselves as professionals.

All of this led to a poisonous and volatile atmosphere that was apparent from kick off. A poison that could and should have been dealt with the moment Fabregas opened his mouth on Sky - and absolutely should have been addressed when Hazard made his comments on the BBC - was instead left to fester until match day where it was obvious it was a powder keg. Chelsea players were fighting harder than they had all season; Spurs players were leaving unnecessary feet in (Walker) and, even when Spurs went 0-2 up by playing the far better football, the poisonous atmosphere was more important than the scoreline. There was genuine hatred out on that field - a hatred fuelled by the unregulated and unchecked collapse of Professionalism in the build up.

First Fabregas can hope Leicester win the title; then Hazard, then Begovic - all of them still to PLAY the team they have just nominated as preferred winners. HOw do you imagine the Spurs team feels watching this? These vastly rich scions of a Russian billionaire who have done **** all for the entire season are openly stating they will make ending Eric Dier's title dreams their ******* Cup Final.

And the League just lets them get away with it. Nobody says "Hey this is unprofessional." Nobody says "Any suggestion that Team A tries harder against Team B rather than TEAM C will be investigated". Nothing. Nothing was done to curtail the impression that Chelsea players were free to choose their winner out of two teams they were still to play.

The game on Monday was personal. It was personal; it was poisonous and it ended exactly how it was destined to end - two tribes still fighting and squabbling as they left the field. Forgotten is the fact that Spurs played Chelsea off the park in the first half. Forgotten is all the missed cards Clattenburg should have given Chelsea players early on to establish control. All of this is forgotten because this was engineered to be a spiteful clash and that's exactly what happened. Even 0-2 up Spurs players were incensed - more full of hatred for their opponents than fully concentrating on the lead they'd established by being the better football side. So when Chelsea, comprehensively outplayed in football, seek to engender confrontation, Spurs rush in, in a way they haven't all season, because they are full of hate for a team who has been allowed to openly barrack.


Does any of this excuse Dembele eye-gouging? No. Of course not.

But when everyone is finished kicking this young Spurs side to death, perhaps a moment of reflection for how the context was allowed to build towards this game.

Neither SPurs, Chelsea or the Powers THat Be come out of this looking good. Only one team will suffer though.

It's a bit difficult for the league to investigate Chelsea for not trying to win a game that hasn't even been played yet, isn't it? The Chelsea players and supporters might prefer to see Leicester win the league ahead of one of their rivals, but so long as they put that aside and act professionally once they step on the field it'd be difficult to have an accusation of match fixing stick. In any case, it's not going to make a difference in the end is it? Whether Chelsea win, lose or draw against Leicester in 2 weeks time is irrelevant because Tottenham have already put themselves out of the race, so I can't see how you can blame a hypothetical situation like this for the position you're currently in.

As for all of this being a deliberate attempt to engineer a 'spiteful clash' with 'genuine hatred out on the field'.. So what? We've had dozens of spiteful clashes with Chelsea over the years, I've forgotten the last time a game against United wasn't spiteful, and have you watched a recent Clasico? Spitefulness and hatred between 2 clubs is part & parcel of what makes those great rivalries tick. There's always something on the line. However, it's incumbent on the players involved in those games to be professional and focused enough to use that spitefulness to generate passion, enthusiasm and energy; not be overcome by it and engage in petty bullshit that is secondary to the goal of actually winning the game of football (e.g. stamping, eye gouging and spitting on their opponents).

I have no issue with Tottenham going into that game fired up and ready to get stuck into the Chelsea players, knock the stuffing out of them in 50/50s and play with focused aggression. That's not what happened though, they were overcome by the occasion, fell into the trap Chelsea had set for them (the same trap they set almost every time they play one of their rivals) and completely lost the plot. To me it was indicative of a playing group lacking leaders who have experienced that sort of occasion and pressure. Chelsea had nothing riding on that game other than pride, Tottenham on the other hand had a league title as the prize, and all they had to do was keep their focus for 90 minutes. Instead they lost sight of that and opted to partake in petty scuffles and sniping behind play, costing them the game and ultimately the chance of winning that prize, and for that they have no-one to blame but themselves.

 

[Ratts of Tobruk]

Hawkforce's post seems fair to me. I can't believe the players were allowed to say that out loud and not be reprimanded. If Spurs were still in it come the last day, what odds would the bookies have given for the Chelsea Leicester match?

Of course the Spurs players shouldn't have bought into it, and they would've suspected Chelsea would want to make themselves have some relevance on the season anyway (I wrote about it on BF, so of course they would've been considering it), but it did make the idea of fairness look weak in the lead up. If things were seen as potentially unfair previously, and then again on the day, then you suddenly have some very pissed off players.

But I don't know if the ref was too hesitant to give out cards. It was a derby so normally discipline would've been central. Like Leicester v West Ham, or Chelsea Liverpool in 13/14, however, this may have been another case of a ref not wanting to look like he is going to be an influence so near to the season's end. 'Letting things go' is fine, but not punishing clearly cardable behaviour is a risky move generally only done in the first 15 mins.

 

[chef]

Dembele was rightly punished for the gouge, I don't think even the most one-eyed Spurs supporters could deny it. However, I think they have every right to feel aggrieved that they are making an example out of him, when similar things have happened before (ironically involving Chelsea) yet there has been minimal action taken.

Let's note that none of the below actions were punished, aside from Dembele.

At the time of the Koscielny/Costa incident everyone was up in arms over his actions - and rightly so. But from memory (happy to be proven wrong), he was not even booked thus meaning he escaped punishment. He virtually slapped Koscielny and you can see there is intent to go for his eyes in the image above. Where was the punishment for Costa?

What about the gouge on Skrtel? Did anything eventuate from that? (I don't even remember it occurring to be honest).

And Torres on Vertonghen? While it may not be as bad, it can still be considered violent conduct and I think any contact made around the face should be an automatic red card.

A bit rich of Chelsea supporters to be playing the victim card, their players have hardly been saints over the years. Fabregas did the old nut tap apparently which started things after the game. Are Chelsea fans going to condemn his behaviour and call for him to be punished retrospectively?

Dont think any Chelsea supporters are playing the victim, just pointing out its not a one way street. All those images are bad and should have been dealt with by the FA.

 

[glenferry23]

Costa got a retrospective ban Cruyff14 for his actions in the Koscielny incident.

Too little too late by that stage, he'd already had a the defining influence on that game.

 

[jd2010]

The FA got it right with Dembele but would love to know how the other images got off. Crazy really how Costa gets away with things.