Diego Costa bite: Did the Chelsea striker bite Everton midfielder Gareth Barry?

Costa sent off at Everton for second yellow card

Tom Sheen
Saturday 12 March 2016 20:15 GMT
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Diego Costa was sent off at Everton for a second yellow card after clashing with Gareth Barry as Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday evening

Costa and Barry, who had clashed frequently throughout the game, went head-to-head after Costa was brought down by the Everton midfielder. The hot-headed Spanish striker had earlier been booked after his flailing arm caught Barry in the face - Costa was furious with the former England man whom he thought overreacted. The striker appeared to spit at the feet of referee Michael Oliver after the incident.

In the later incident, with Chelsea already losing 2-0 and on the way out of the competition, Costa again reacted when clipped by Barry.

Costa immediately leapt to his feet and barged into Barry, the pair clashing heads. At one point Costa appeared to bite Barry's neck, although video footage of the incident was far from conclusive and Barry did not react as if he had been bitten - there was also no visible mark on Barry's neck and the pair actually cuddled immediately after.

See the incident here:

The incident, which was not seen by referee Michael Oliver, certainly shows the Chelsea striker open his mouth and move towards Barry's neck.

It is a piece of footage that the Football Association seem sure to look at and something that they are certain not to take lightly.

When former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez appeared to bite Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013, the Uruguayan was handed a whopping 10-match ban, while his infamous bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup earned him a four-month ban from all football activities.

Chelsea blew their last chance at winning a piece of silverware this season after losing 2-0 at Goodsion Park.

Former striker Romelu Lukaku scored twice, the first a brilliant solo effort and the second a smart finish, to send the Blues tumbling out of their second cup competition in only a week.

Do you think it was a bite? Let us know in the comments

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