An Analysis of the Twitter Reaction to Diego Costa's Three-Match Ban

After receiving a violent conduct charge on Wednesday, Diego Costa has now been handed a three-match ban by the Football Association, as per the Guardian. 

This fast-tracked punishment means the Brazilian-born striker will be out of action for Chelsea's crucial clash with Manchester City on Saturday evening. Unless you have been living under a virtual rock, you will know that this controversial sequence of events has inspired plenty of debate online, with many Blues fans claiming that it adds fuel to the #CampaignAgainstChelsea fire. 

There is much protestation surrounding the FA's decision, based on a supposed lack of proof of Costa's intent: How can they really know that Costa meant to stamp on Emre Can? You know, the same kind of stamp that he also dished out to Martin Skrtel? 

A cornerstone of the complaint is the fact that Costa was not looking at his feet when the stamp took place. Therefore, he may not have been aware that he was about to make contact with Can's shin instead of turf...

"

Costa doesn't even look at Emre Can's leg, looking fully at the ball. Regardless of what he's done in the past, you can't prove he meant it.

— TweetChelseaFC (@TweetChelseaFC) January 30, 2015"

This argument seems logical, but it is apparently dispelled by other incidents... 

The Times' Matt Hughes took to Twitter to explain the rationale behind the FA's decision. According to his voice of reason, they only need to establish a probability of intent in circumstances such as these... 

Football writer Nooruddean Choudry (@BeardedGenius) also gave his stance, inferring that the stamp was deliberate, and that Costa actually deserves praise for his rule-bending physicality...

In Costa's defence, many have also pointed out the hypocrisy in FA fines. On the same day that Costa was reprimanded, Stoke's Robert Huth was given a two-match ban for comments made on social media, as per the BBC. 

Yet for every Twitter user who is outraged by the decision, there appears to be another who concurs with the FA's ruling. Surprisingly, several of those who agree are Chelsea fans... 

"

Costa deserves his ban in the same way as Suarez deserved his bans. Doesn't mean i wouldn't want him in my side.

— Paul (@MedazzaLFC) January 30, 2015"

"

In the game if the ref see it Costa would of got a red. I'm 99% certain he meant it, if he did it was stupid & it deserves a ban. Move on

— I Am A Special One (@CFCboogs) January 28, 2015"

Regardless of one's stance on the ban, a common conclusion has arisen from Costa's latest indiscretion: He is the kind of player you absolutely want on your team and absolutely do not want on the opposing side. In an article for The Telegraph, Gary Neville expresses this sentiment. "Sport is not a place for flawless people," he adds, while celebrating Costa's spirit and "naughtiness..."     

It has become clear that Costa might have much bigger problems than a match ban to deal with, as AFC Wimbledon's imposing striker Adebayo Akinfenwa has issued the Spain international a stern warning. "Be careful #DiegoCosta bcuz #Adebayo#Akinfenwa will come for you," said football's strongest man... 

A "disagreement" between Bayo and Costa would be the kind of spectacle Don King could sell tickets to.

Threats between terrifying strikers aside, Twitter wouldn't be Twitter if some users didn't create some LOLs out of this story... 

The delivery of a ban so unusually close to a game also appears to have had a devastating effect on most people's fantasy football teams...

"

Hands up if you have transferred #DiegoCosta out of your Fantasy Football team? pic.twitter.com/4LRlQ0D9qt

— KICCA Football (@KICCAFOOTBALL) January 30, 2015"

Amid all the furore about the ban and the anti-Chelsea conspiracies, it seems the biggest storyline of a Manchester City clash at Chelsea has fallen by the wayside...  

For the love of narrative, won't someone please think of Frank Lampard and his return to Stamford Bridge?!

If he has the same impact that he did in the last meeting between these two sides, we probably won't be talking about Diego Costa on Sunday.  

Follow me on Twitter @RyanJayBailey