Jose Mourinho's Goals on Sunday rant: Diego Costa is punished for his reputation... and deserves an apology from Sky Sports

Jose Mourinho demanded Sky Sports apologise to Chelsea striker Diego Costa for calling a collection of his fouls 'crimes' during a tirade on the network's Goals on Sunday programme.

The Chelsea manager's comments came as he criticised referee Martin Atkinson for failing to act on a tackle by Ashley Barnes on Nemanja Matic.

Mourinho was recalling a package shown during coverage of Chelsea's League Cup semi-final against Liverpool after which Costa was retrospectively suspended for stamping on Emre Can. 

Chelsea's Diego Costa vents his frustration after having a penalty denied by Martin Atkinson on Saturday

Chelsea's Diego Costa vents his frustration after having a penalty denied by Martin Atkinson on Saturday

'When I finished the game against Liverpool, I went to the dressing room, first thing I saw because we have a big screen to analyse the match at half-time and at the end of the match, was reading non-stop about Diego Costa "crimes",' Mourinho said. 


'I would like to know how do you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of the Burnley player [Barnes] yesterday?'

'When you say Diego "crimes" you cannot say a harsh tackle [for Barnes]. You have to say a criminal tackle. Maybe your English is good enough to find another adjective. 

Jose Mourinho says Sky Sports should apologise to Costa for calling his fouls against Liverpool 'crimes'

Jose Mourinho says Sky Sports should apologise to Costa for calling his fouls against Liverpool 'crimes'

'You say Diego "crimes" because of a situation he put his boot on a hand. When this is Diego "crimes" the minimum you have to say [for Barnes] is criminal tackle. Minimum.'

Mourinho went on, saying Costa's reputation from his time at Atletico Madrid preceded him when he arrived at Stamford Bridge and that he was treated unfairly on debut in August, also against Burnley, when he was denied a penalty and booked for diving by Michael Oliver. 

This studs-up tackle from Barnes infuriated Matic and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho backed up his player

This studs-up tackle from Barnes infuriated Chelsea boss Mourinho, who says it was 'criminal'

Martins Atkinson shows the red card to Matic after the Serbian pushed Barnes over in retaliation to the tackle

Matic was so furious about the tackle that his reaction earned him a red card from Atkinson

'I don't like to act that, in my opinion, you start immediately in that moment the public judgement of the player,' Mourinho said. 'You gave no space to the people, the fans to decide. You gave no space. You don't do this with every club. You don't do this with every player.

Mourinho was also incensed about a Costa penalty shout being turned down by Atkinson on Saturday, when the striker fell to the ground as Burnley captain Jason Shackell leaned into him with an outstretched arm. Most pundits have since agreed it could have been awarded as a penalty but it would have been considered a very soft one.

He said: 'The penalty story with Costa started on day one. Burnley-Chelsea which was day one in the Premier League. Penalty, red card for the goalkeeper. Mr Oliver, another top referee in this country, clearly in a couple of years a top referee in European football, have a yellow card to Costa and free-kick against Chelsea. We have this history since day one.' 

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