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Diego Costa’s Three Match Ban Not Enough For Arsenal Satisfaction
By Josh Sippie
The FA has let out a ruling in the Diego Costa, Chelsea and Arsenal situation,. The mauling striker will have to serve a three match ban. My first thought of ‘justice’ quickly subsided when I thought about the overall message here. Gabriel’s red card got overturned and his suspension revoked, but he is still being charged with misconduct. Therefore, Arsenal come out on a top and the decision that Mike Dean made during the game decided the game.
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Diego Costa was guilty of violent behavior and all of that jazz, but Mike Dean made some erroneous calls and determined the course of the game.
So, FA… what about Mike Dean?
I am not one to pin a game on the referee. There are not many times where one single occurrence changes the course of a game. But here, that was absolutely the case. Arsenal and Chelsea were evenly matched and it was a very entertaining game. Either side could have pulled out victorious. When the scuffle began, disciplinary action had to happen. There were two many extremities hitting people’s faces. It was ugly and something had to be done. Mike Dean did something. He raised the yellow to Costa and Gabriel Paulista. One for Arsenal, one for Chelsea. Equal punishment despite the inequalities of the offenses. In the grand scheme though, it was fine, it was over.
A few nicks and scuffles later and Mike Dean is emerging from the sea of blue and showing Gabriel a red card for an incident that he had walked away from. Call it peer pressure. Call it intimidation. Call it whatever you want, the point remains the same. Mike Dean did Chelsea a favor, and a massive one at that. Arsenal were removed from contention.
The fact that the FA completely undid everything Mike Dean muffed up is all that needs to be known. Dean red-carded Gabriel, forcing him into a three match ban and he did nothing to Costa. The FA took back the suspension and the red card and gave it to Diego Costa. Mike Dean’s hard work was completely undone by the FA in the best way they could.
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Which takes us back to the match. Mike Dean completely ruined the match. The FA has proven that with their ruling. Yet the Dean-ster is not facing any sort of punishment at all. That hardly seems just from an Arsenal perspective or from any perspective really. The only party more guilty than Costa was Mike Dean.
Are the referees beyond reprimand from their governing body? Mike Dean compeltely botched the entire situation, he spoiled the game, infuriated an entire fan base and then had all of it undone, except for the infuriating part. Yet he is still going to bed at night with peace and tranquility dreaming about bangers and mash or whatever it is that blundering referees dream about.
The FA is on the right track, but lets hope that the punishments that are being doled out do not stop with Costa.
Next: FA Rules in Gabriel's Favor - Or Do They?