Diego Costa punished by Spain for ‘unedifying’ role in Gabriel’s sending off

Well this is a first.

Diego Costa has taken the mantle from Luis Suarez as the 'most hated' footballer in England over the last 12 months or so with his stamping antics and general behaviour that would earn him a good wallop in most other sports. His latest transgression was of course to be (partially) responsible for getting Gabriel Paulista sent off in the tempestuous Stamford Bridge encounter last month that Chelsea won 2-0. The striker was subsequently handed a three match ban for 'violent conduct' by the FA, and it seems that his bold behaviour hasn't gone unnoticed in Spain. The Brazilian-born striker has been dropped from by Spain manager Vincente Del Bosque from the squad for the Euro 2016 games against Luxembourg and Ukraine. Costa is suspended anyway for the first game, but the Spain manager appeared to hint that the player was excluded from the squad in its entirety because of his antics in last Premier League outing.

"What he did was unedifying, and that is why he was punished. Of course, I didn’t like what he did.”

Of course Costa has hardly been in sparking form for Spain anyway with just one goal in nine appearances since declaring for the country but the ex-Real Madrid manger denied that his form has anything to do with his omission.

He can’t play the first game through suspension and we’ve decided not to bring him. He hasn't played badly and it’s not on merit.”

Perhaps Del Bosque is telling the truth but it's doubtful the Spain squad will miss him too much considering his recent poor form for club and country.