By Toby Prince
Brazil legend Pele has defended under-fire Chelsea striker, Diego Costa, after insisting the Blues star’s actions against Arsenal at the weekend was not worse than Luis Suarez’s bite on Branislav Ivanovic two years ago.
Costa became the centre of attention during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over the Gunners at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after he grabbed Laurent Koscielny’s face as the two competed for a cross before bringing him down to the pitch when confronted by the Arsenal defender.
The incident went unnoticed by referee Mike Dean.
Minutes later, Costa became embroiled in a war of words with Gabriel Paulista which resulted in both players receiving cautions – before the Gunners centre-back was subsequently sent off for flicking his heel at the Chelsea striker.
Gabriel’s red card has since been rescinded by the FA on appeal while Costa has been handed a three-game ban for violent conduct by an independent regulatory commission.
But Pele insists Costa’s actions in the London derby does not compare with what former Liverpool striker Suarez did when he bit Chelsea’s Ivanovic during the two clubs’ draw in 2013 and when he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup game last year.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse at an event to launch an exhibition to mark his 75th birthday, Pele said: “Listen, this to me was so common (in the 60s and 70s).
“I suffered all my life with good marking. He’s a very good player, everybody knows.
“This was one moment. The striker who bit someone, Luis Suarez, was worse than this.”
