Costa Handed 4-Game Ban

By Harry Morgan

Serie A has handed a four-game ban to Douglas Costa for spitting on Sassuolo’s Federico Di Francesco in Juventus' 2-1 win on Sunday.

The winger spat on Di Francisco in the dying embers of the match day-four encounter, following a verbal confrontation after the Brazilian had launched a tackle towards the former’s ankle, elbowed and head-butted him.

Confirming the ban, Serie A said in its weekly disciplinary report released on Tuesday, the Brazilian was banned for spatting and indiscipline acts picked up by the Video Assistant Referee.

‘Costa is banned for unsporting behavior on the field for, having spat in the face of an opponent, an infringement picked up by VAR in the 48th minute of the second half while play was halted."

Costa is nonetheless available to face Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday but will miss Juventus' league games against Frosinone, Bologna, Napoli, and Udinese.