Diego Costa handed eight game ban for abusing referee against Barcelona

We might have seen Diego Costa in an Atlético Madrid jersey for the last time. He was handed an eight game ban on Thursday for abusing referee Gil Manzano against Barcelona on Sunday at the Camp Nou.

The striker was given four games for the insults and four for placing his hand on the referee and with seven games left in the season, he will have an extended summer holiday.

It is by far the longest suspension of Costa’s career, as he’s served bans of three games and two bans with Chelsea and Atlético in the past. The red against Barça was the 11th of his career and his first straight red since being sent for an early shower in the Europa League in 2012/13.

Costa spent significant time on the sideline this season after undergoing surgery for an issue with his foot, and reports have suggested Atlético want Mauro Icardi as a replacement. At 30, his goal output declining and his ability to stay on the field waning too, the club might be considering cutting their losses on a transfer that many wanted desperately to work out but never did.