Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Diego Costa pleads innocence after obscene insult at referee earns decisive red card

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored in the 2-0 victory to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga with just seven matches remaining

Atletico Madrid and the Spanish authorities are on collision course over Diego Costa’s dismissal in Saturday’s night’s top-of-the-table clash with Barcelona.

Barca ran out 2-0 winners, with late goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi almost certainly handing the defending champions a fourth title in five years.

Atleti’s job was made immensely difficult by the first-half red card given to Diego Costa for comments made to the referee.

An incensed Costa confronted referee Gil Manzano, and the passage is described in his official report as follows:

“In the 28th minute, number 19… Diego Costa was sent off for the following reason: saying to me loudly, in the following terms: ‘I s**t on your w**** mother, I s**t on your w**** mother!’”

Koke revealed that Costa had apologised to his teammates but insisted he had not insulted the referee and that comments were aimed at himself.

“Something always happens to us when we come here,” added Koke.

"In the last 11 games, I think there have been seven red cards and not all of them have been fair.

Diego Costa confronts the referee after his red card (EPA)

"We must try to stay as high as possible in LaLiga. We will have to watch what happened [against Barcelona].

"What we talk about stays inside the dressing room and no one has to know [what is said]."