Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Everton cool Costa bite controversy


Stills from the BBC broadcast show Costa pushing his face into Barry's and then appearing to bite his neck
Television cameras captured the moment where the two players literally went head-to-head with each other late in Everton's stirring 2-0 victory as Costa, already on a yellow card for catching Barry in the first half, pushed his head into the veteran midfielder's face and then put his mouth on his neck.
That has led to fevered speculation that the Spanish international attempted a Luis Suarez-style bite, the like of which eventually led to a lengthy ban for the former Liverpool striker, but Roberto Martinez explained that Barry says there was very little to the incident.
"Gareth Barry said 'It's nothing to be worried about, I'm just disappointed to get a second yellow card'," claimed the Martinez said after the game.
"It wasn't a key moment in the game and I don't think we should focus on [it].
"It is a game full of emotions and there were two sending-offs, the referee played a very good game."
Barry was dismissed for a second yellow card himself three minutes after Costa received his marching orders from referee Michael Oliver and will now serve a two-match ban due to it being his second red card of the season.
Though he admitted to not having yet seen the incident, Chelsea boss, Guus Hiddink, tried to suggest that the testy striker had been goaded into his reaction by Everton's harassment of him throughout the game.
"I haven't seen it on TV - and then I will give a fair comment," the Dutchman said after seeing his team eliminated from a second cup competition this week. "Everton were going after him all game."
Martinez laughed off his opposite number's comments, suggesting that Hiddink was merely putting on his own spin and interpretation of the game:
"My interpretation of the game was two teams who matched each other well and I didn't think any of my players fell into losing their focus on what we had to do."
Reader Comments (51)
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2 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:33:11
Typical of Everton or an Everton player to play it down. When will Chelsea, and others like them, realize You CAN'T buy class!
3 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:38:12
4 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:41:45
When he was going in with the mouth though it didn't look good.
Fair play to Barry.
5 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:43:44
6 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:49:36
7 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:52:36
8 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:53:40
We need that steel.
9 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:55:10
10 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:56:02
11 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:56:06
It wasn't a bite. He gestured to bite and then closed his mouth. Looked quite lovey dovey towards the end. Definitely a booking for squaring up though so had to go.
What was Barry doing anyway for his 2nd? Very stupid. He's had that many cards now surely he must know what constitutes getting a card.
12 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:59:18
Time to give Besic a run in the side.
COYB!
13 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:04:24
It'll give Mo a chance to shine then, I suppose.
14 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:07:58
16 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:22:37
17 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:29:06
Barry's problem is the 2nd yellow was against Fabregas who we all know has previous for this (ask Arteta). However like Mirallas last week, if you are on a yellow, you don't jump in. End of.
18 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:32:33
19 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:33:23
20 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:36:48
That said, I think Chelsea set up to ruin the game, play acting over every decision, and Costa had lost his head almost from the start. Costa should have received an extra yellow card for his diving, but escaped a lot.
His eventual red card seemed inevitable, but I don't think he bit Barry. Come on, let's be honest, if so someone bites you, there is a certain type of reaction, Barry did not react that way.
22 Posted 12/03/2016 at 23:40:08
23 Posted 13/03/2016 at 00:32:17
I like Costa. He won me £360 when he fired Atletico to the la liga title. He's a terrible sport mind you...a cheat, you might say.
24 Posted 13/03/2016 at 01:39:07
25 Posted 13/03/2016 at 01:51:38
Great game brilliant atmosphere well done Rom, his first touch has improved, about time.
Ross was a bit quiet for most of the game don't think he will ever be the player we want him to be.
26 Posted 13/03/2016 at 02:01:16
Still hard to believe that was Costa's first sending off in a Chelsea shirt.
27 Posted 13/03/2016 at 02:05:55
And those rs fans, they are so lame, why bother? I just hope Real Madrid tries to hire Klopp next season.
28 Posted 13/03/2016 at 02:22:55
just look at what happens after he's shown the Red. He puts his head right into the Ref's face, and the Referee, has to step away quickly. If he hadn't Costa would have 'chinned' him.
To me that is far more serious than the 'Handbags of Dracula' incident!
29 Posted 13/03/2016 at 07:59:58
Good performance today, let's remember for Lukaku's brilliant goal I for one was screaming at the TV as I thought the pass had put him in a hopeless position. Bring on Watford in the final!
30 Posted 13/03/2016 at 08:01:42
It does show that most of what he does on the pitch is calculated play acting but there is a decent(ish) bloke inside.
31 Posted 13/03/2016 at 08:06:14
32 Posted 13/03/2016 at 08:31:33
Ps: those who believe Barry was calculated enough to get Costa sent off, well.... Could he have been calculated enough to get that booking so he has a clear run for the semis? We all know he is good for a booking each game and would surely have picked up one against mancs or arse which would make him sit out the semi.
33 Posted 13/03/2016 at 09:24:35
It might have seemed silly but Fabregas made a meal of it (as he usually does).
Barry has been a linchpin and seems to be getting fitter and better with age, Totti, Pirlo, McAllister prime examples.
34 Posted 13/03/2016 at 09:25:39
35 Posted 13/03/2016 at 10:12:01
By my standards I'd have been happy with no cards.
36 Posted 13/03/2016 at 10:37:16
1 He will now play in the semi final ( one more yellow was his 10th wasn't it which gives a 2-match ban);
2 He will get a rest having played all season;
3 McCarthy, Besic and Cleverley are all fit at the moment so we have plenty of cover;
4 Most important of all, the game was wrapped up and we were going to Wembley anyway.
I have to say that was one of the best atmospheres in the ground this season. The Street end was rocking!!!
I don't see how people can claim the game wasn't good but they won't ruin my memories of the game!
Finally, a great weekend to enjoy!!!
37 Posted 13/03/2016 at 12:00:46
39 Posted 13/03/2016 at 13:32:38
I've heard loads of people saying you'd love him in your team. I wouldn't. Who'd want to watch them theatrics and cheating tactics all the time? I'd hate it. It's downright embarrassing.
Kudos to Barry for playing it down but you'd expect that from an exemplary pro like him. I predicted a red card for him (Costa) after 15 minutes and it couldn't have happened to a nicer fella. The Toffees ended your season. Wembley for us!
40 Posted 13/03/2016 at 13:43:47
41 Posted 13/03/2016 at 13:51:29
Look across the park however and Liverpool fans are falling ober themselves to see the incident through their usual rose tinted glasses and call blue murder and Costa should get what Suarez got.
Costa is a total disgrace and I hate the way he plays the game, but he shouldnt be punished anywhere near as much as Suarez was.
42 Posted 13/03/2016 at 14:10:15
You have to admire Roberto's decision to offer him a 3-year contract. He deserves some real appreciation for that.
43 Posted 13/03/2016 at 14:43:20
On a lighter note, I think we have about the coolest looking team, in the Premier League... A good looking bunch of dudes.
Which team do we think would win an Ugly Mugs league?
44 Posted 13/03/2016 at 16:05:22
45 Posted 13/03/2016 at 16:06:25
What's the betting we get winner of the Mancs or Hammers next????
46 Posted 13/03/2016 at 16:31:23
Wonder if there were any odds on Costa biting somebody yesterday? I think a guy from Norway won a bet that Suarez would bite someone in the World Cup. The fact that there were odds on Suarez biting another person says it all really.
47 Posted 14/03/2016 at 01:20:51
48 Posted 14/03/2016 at 02:31:04
I hope we get Palace. They are still in their slump. Let Watford beat West Ham for us, then we might have easier pickings.
49 Posted 14/03/2016 at 02:37:01
50 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:43:33
As Costa has demonstrated time and time again, he is a special case when it comes to gamesmanship, antagonizing and baiting....he is fair game in this league...and its all of his own doing...
On a side note....I especially enjoyed John Terry looking for offside for the 2nd goal...
51 Posted 14/03/2016 at 12:35:29
He is too concerned about his "hard man" image than trying to score.
Thought as soon as Barry got the yellow, he was looking for a second to make sure he could play in the semi. little kick out, nothing bad but the second yellow obtained.
52 Posted 14/03/2016 at 12:59:15
Horrible antics off Chelsea, but it's such a horrible part of the game, that it seems you have to lower yourself down too. It's a very sad fact, that all the major winning teams, share these antics, in one way or another.
53 Posted 15/03/2016 at 14:04:46
54 Posted 15/03/2016 at 14:12:22
I would imagine every half decent supporter the length and breadth of the Country are made up that the coward finally got caught out. How many times over the years have we seen Terry and his team in the face of the ref? They are as bad as our cousins.
I thought the referee was brilliant throughout.
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1 Posted 12/03/2016 at 22:27:55
England and Everton Great Day's Sport.