It’s not often that Diego Costa is the victim in a violent exchange but Mousa Dembele was definitely the offending party towards the end of the first half of Spurs’ crucial game at Stamford Bridge.
Tempers flared on the sidelines as half-time drew near following an aggressive Danny Rose challenge on Willian which prompted the Brazilian to square up to the Spurs left back.
Mauricio Pochettino took to the pitch to pull the players apart before members of both team’s backroom staff also got involved.
In a slow-motion replay of the melee, Sky Sports cameras picked up Spurs’ midfielder Dembele digging his fingers into Costa’s eyes in a revolting act that wasn’t picked up by referee Mark Clattenburg.
An FA ban is expected after a review of the footage and that means that this is almost certainly the Belgian’s final game of the Premier League season.
Ban for #Dembele pic.twitter.com/s3hyoddWqV
— Roy Bennett (@ThriveRoy) May 2, 2016
One in the eye for Diego Costa there, well in Dembele lad #LFC pic.twitter.com/YBlgS3vUBF
— Kop Magazine (@TheKopMagazine) May 2, 2016
Nice from Dembele. Not often you sympathise with Costa
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) May 2, 2016
Well, there's a ban for Dembele; idiot. This has been very feisty – proper renewing of the rivalry. Spurs players falling for the wind-up.
— Chris I’Anson-Miller (@WindyCOYS) May 2, 2016
Spurs won't have dembele for rest of season now once that eye gouge is dealt with. Nasty one.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) May 2, 2016
Well thats Dembele banned after this game then.
GG Spurs.
— Ben S (@TheNenheb) May 2, 2016
Dembele what the fuck
— Matt (@mattk_lfc) May 2, 2016
Fucking scum Dembele taking notes from Mourinho
— Master (@TedDrakeGoal) May 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/yasmineaidoo/status/727222830308462593
https://twitter.com/WoodWhufc/status/727222830350344192
https://twitter.com/_Kirkers/status/727222830560120832
#thfc Dembele must be suspended for trying to gouge costa's eye. Ref missed it but fa can act. #thfc filthy tonight.
— 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐃. 𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬 (@John_D_Lewis) May 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/MrLewisG11/status/727223317472657410
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