Costa banned for four Serie A matches for spitting

Douglas Costa has been banned for four matches after spitting at Federico Di Francesco in a game between Juventus and Sassuolo, Lega Serie A has announced.

Costa clashed with the Sassuolo forward at the end of Sunday’s Serie A match, which Juve won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his first goals for the club.

The Brazil international elbowed and headbutted Di Francesco then spat in the face of his opponent, with referee Daniele Chiffi producing a red card after a VAR review of the incident.

Costa apologised on social media without mentioning Di Francesco, while Juve head coach Massimiliano Allegri claimed his player had been provoked.

 

 

 

 

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Gostaria de pedir desculpas a todos os torcedores da Juventus por essa minha reação equivocada no jogo de hoje. Peço também desculpas aos meus companheiros de time, que estão sempre comigo nos momentos bons e ruins. Errei feio, tenho consciência e venho me desculpar com todos por isso. Deixo claro que essa atitude isolada não condiz com o que sempre mostrei em minha carreira. Douglas Costa Vorrei scusarmi con tutti i fan della Juventus per questa reazione fuorviante nel gioco di oggi. Mi scuso anche con i miei compagni di squadra, che sono sempre con me nei momenti belli e cattivi. Ero brutto, ne sono consapevole e mi scuso con tutti per questo. Metto in chiaro che questo atteggiamento isolato non corrisponde a quello che ho sempre dimostrato nella mia carriera. Douglas Costa @juventus

A post shared by DC11 (@douglascosta) on Sep 16, 2018 at 9:47am PDT

Lega Serie A confirmed in a disciplinary update on Tuesday that Costa will serve a four-match ban, with the punishment only relating to the spitting incident.

The 21-year-old Sassuolo attacker, son of Roma head coach Eusebio Di Francesco, has issued an angry denial after reports suggested he had racially abused Costa.

“I am profoundly upset by the allegations and the inventions which have appeared on various national media outlets,” Di Francesco said. “All of this is offensive and denigratory.

“I will not allow racist behaviour and/or phrases that do not pertain to my values and ethics, and that are fruits of the imagination of others, to be attributed to me. I ask for and demand respect.”

Allegri stated after the game Costa will be fined by Juve following the incident.